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I have to learn to weld or something

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Why is everything on this stupid car so difficult?

I'm trying to get a custom fuel tank made. I have Dan Masters design (thanks Dan btw), and I want to modify it a little to give me twin rear takeoffs, baffles and to make it roughly rectangular so I don't have to cut the two triangles away. I'll sacrifice the volume for the convenience.

I've tried a half dozen places on the web now. There is nowhere local - the only guy close to me is too concerned about liability.

Can I get a quote? Any kind of quote? Not a chance.

I'm frustrated beyond words. At this point I'm half-seriously thinking of giving up and junking the thing.

Anyone want a half finished TR6 and a lot of expensive parts? It's been a looong day and I've just about had enough. I need a beer and some perspective...
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try Nationwide Auto Restoration. They're located near Louisville, Ky. I think it's Restore1.com. If that doesn't work, I'll give them a call and get the correct address.
 
Alan hang in there man, the address for Nationwide is https://www.1restoration.com/

Very cool place, a few years ago our club took a drive on a Saturday, the owner opened the shop up for us and showed us what he was working on at the time, 54 XK120 coupe, 53 MG TD, 58 MGA, 54 Healey 100-4M, 49 Triumph 2000 and 59 Porsche 356A .
 
Alan,

Don't do anything drastic there champy! I know Revington TR sells tanks already made up with the baffles that you speak of.... don't know how much the price compared to something fabbed up in the states, but at least someone else has already done the engineering and fitting.
 
I looked for a cell first - there isn't one that will fit. I want it in the stock location and using the stock fill - so it can't be more than 11x11x32ish and the fill hole has to be offset.

I saw Revingtons offering this afternoon, but the price is going to be high with shipping and the poor USD:GBP ratio. It's a last resort. For that price I ought to be able to get something made. It's only a few bits of aluminum at the end of the day.

I also sent an email to Nationwide. I'm waiting for 1 other place too.

Thanks all.
 
Alana,

I imagine you are looking to have a tank built in order to meet the demands of fuel injection. I am converting my TR6 over well and plan to use a transfer pump and collector tank to meet the needs of a pressurized system with return line.

Lee Janssen who's 6 is FI and turbo'd uses this setup. I have checked it out in person and it is pretty slick. BTW the collector tank doesn't need to be that big, so it is not too intrusive.

Good luck and remember to breath
 
Hi Alan,

Hang in there!

I'm half-way considering taking an aluminum welding class at a local tech school, and of course my "class project" would be a fuel cell for my TR4. I'd offer to help with yours, but who knows when and where that will happen!

Several ideas that won't keep you waiting as long as I would...

Keep looking around your area. It would be best to work with someone close by you can talk to and discuss the plan.
You might try race-oriented auto parts shops and look for perfromance fabrications in your local phone book... ask the drag racers down on main street, 11 pm on Sat. nite, where they get their special stuff built. There's bound to be someone who can/will do the work! It's not rocket science, after all!

Something to consider, the shape of the tank with the triangle cutouts in the lower corners, I think was done to "funnel" the flow of fuel better during hard cornering (and, thankfully, stock TR4 tanks already have baffling in place... dunno why Triumph left it out of the later gas tanks). BTW, most TR tanks have a drain opposite side from the outlet. It's a simple pipe thread and I've set mine up as a second takeoff, with both hoses leading to the fuel pump. Ain't no way it'll suck air in a hard LH corner now! I'll replicate that when I get around to building a fuel cell, too.

Another option, there are a couple national specialist gas tank/fuel cell makers catering to the racing marketplace. I would be surprised if some of them *don't* already have a TR pattern available, since a similar design was used in TR4/4A/250/5/6, all of which saw a lot of track time.

And, speaking of racers, you might get in touch with Joe Alexander www.The-Vintage-Racer.com and/or Uncle Jack Drews at https://www.tonydrews.com/Jack_Parts.htm I bet one of them can suggest a source for the gas tank of your dreams!

Finally, there is someone occasionally offering custom aluminum fuel tanks for TRs on eBay. I think the guy is in San Diego and is a Jag specialist, but makes up a few other things, too. He sells repro Jag fender vent screens, for one thing (that I can remember).

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Alan,
I bought the aluminum fuel tank that Moss sells about 5 years ago when I did my first restoration (notice I said first)
and remember that I had to bring it to a welder (I don't aluminum weld) to have the extra hole welded over that was there for the fuel injection crowd. I does also come with a baffle, albeit not much of one. I think the capacity is about 11 gals, a slight bit more than stock.
The tank is a drop-in replacement.
Have you looked at their tank? I am pretty sure that most vendors all sell the same tank, not sure but think it is made in UK.

Bill
 
Alan,
I was just thinking, what about a custom motorcycle guy, they could pronably build it for you. On TV they seem to be able to build anything.
 
Check out anybody in your area that does race car prep work. There is a good welder near me that I heard years ago used to TIG gas tanks for racers. He was always reasonable before.
 
You see that's the problem here guys. The area I live in is somewhat lacking in the usual welding/prep/car maint places. Or if it isn't I can't seem to find them.

I'm 28 miles N of NYC and for all the shops I can find I might as well be back in Manhattan. My car is in CT having all it's engine work done because I couldn't find a mechanic any closer that I'd trust to do anything more complex than put the tires on or perform an inspection.

If I lived anywhere else I'm pretty sure that there'd be somewhere local I could go, have a chat, pay some cash and walk out with the kit. If I had an a muscle car or a rod I'd be ok. An LBC - I'm SOL.

Close to me there are 3 tire places, two exhaust shops, a couple of gas station mechanics, and a place that does Swedish cars, and that's about it.
 
Look outside of the usual sources. Most of the airboats in Florida use welded aluminum gas tanks. Try this company;
https://ronniesairboats.com/recreational-airboats.htm
Check with some marine fabricators. Even if they don't build their own tanks they may know a source.
https://www.e-barr.com/plastic_fabrication.htm
I have a fiberglass tank on my boat. I don't know if the manufacturer used a special resin, but you can do some research. My tank is 19 years old and doesn't leak. You could build your own fiberglass tank.
Build a full scale mock-up of the tank using cardboard. Fit check it to your car. Send the mock-up to the fabricator. Make sure you supply detailed drawings and dimensions for the location, size, length... of all inlet and outlets, mounting tabs.... If you provide a complete set of instructions, drawings and a mock-up there will be nothing left to the imagination (or misinterpretation)of the fabricator. Talk to them about material type, thickness and alloy, mounting hardware (rubber isolators?) and pressure testing.
Another possibility is to mount a tank or a fuel cell in the trunk.
 
why don't you order a custom fuel cell from ATL fuel cells.
they are experts in this field. you can get whatever you want, hoever you want it. it will be easily passed at the track and you can be sure it will be safe and works. the foam inside and baffles and sump if required will work properly. most people put a fuel cell in the spare tire space to lower the center of gravity.
this is not an area to fool around with. your life depends on it. this may not be cheap but what is your life worth to you and the others who love you.
rob
 
i need to explain my previous reply.
i have a friend who was in a pinto gas tank explosion fire and was severely burned. lost fingers, her face,ears, scalp, and most of her body burned severely.niky lauda had minor burns in comparison. my other friend that was with here did not survive.
be extremely careful with gas.
rob
 
Thanks to all that responded, both on and off this thread. The guy from Nationwide is making me a tank. Should be ready next week.

Once again, thanks to all.
Alan
 
Wow this guy works quick - I just got an email telling me its in the post. I wish everyone did business this way.

Of course I still have to see the tank, so I'll reserve final judgement until then.
 
what is included in that tank? baffles, rubber bladder, sump tank,foam??? (and what did it cost, if i may ask?)
rob
 
Rob,

This tank is not a clone of the stock one. Its baffled and well oversize - approx 15 gallons. I modified Dan Masters' design to suit my needs, mainly by squaring it off and shrinking it a bit. I sacrificed overall capacity for installation ease.

Stock fill location, should fit in the stock mount location.
Twin AN-8 takeoffs to the rear. AN-6 return at the top plus expansion provision.

Sender is from Nisonger to mate to the stock TR6 fuel gauge, and was included.

No bladder, no foam, no sump - baffles and twin takeoff should handle the pickup. My pump is gravity fed and the system is pressurised for efi. Pump is mounted in the footwell where the spare once lived.

Cost was about $550, delivered (2-day shipping) all up. Material is stainless steel. Took less than a week to make. I tried all over to get one made locally with no luck whatsoever, so before you all say "I could have had one made for less" - I couldn't...

If you want a custom fuel cell to do the same and fit in the same location, cost was around $2500 as an fyi. That's a bit steep for me. The tank is still above the rear axle, and not out in the trunk, so it's as safe as the stock one imo.

Again, I need to see the thing to judge just how nice it is. Should be here by Friday
 
The end result...

Of all this. It's just what I wanted.

Thanks again to those who offered advice or suggestions.
Alan
 

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