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Fuel tank in front?
Mark18 - 14/4/04 at 09:26 PM

What is to stop me putting the fuel tank under the bonnet with the engine? As far as I can see it would be simpler, safer and would free up a bit of boot space. Any ideas? or has this been done already?

Mark

Gripenland - 14/4/04 at 10:04 PM

Dax uses the area where the geerbox is normally located, for their fueltanks. On BEC:s that is.

locoboy - 15/4/04 at 11:02 AM

surely the engine is put just at the entrance to the prop tunnel? thats where the gearbox normally is when using a car engine.

Gripenland - 15/4/04 at 11:09 AM

Here are some pics of Dax setup, viewed from the engine compartment:





Alez - 15/4/04 at 12:04 PM

Thoughts:
-You will need to remove the bonnet to put fuel.
-You will have a slightly worse weight distribution front / rear.

I'd rather make some sort of storage space at the front instead if need be, in addition to the rear space..

Cheers,

Alex

Gripenland - 15/4/04 at 01:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Alez
Thoughts:
-You will need to remove the bonnet to put fuel.
-You will have a slightly worse weight distribution front / rear.

I'd rather make some sort of storage space at the front instead if need be, in addition to the rear space..

Cheers,

Alex


You don't have to remove the hood to fill up fuel. The filler cap is located on the scuttle.

I'm not sure about the weight distribution. That will depend on what type of engine you've got. I weigh more then my engine and gearbox so my car might be slightely rear heavy.

Anyway, at least the tank will not be rearward of the rear axel. Wich is bad for vehicle dynamics and chrash safey.

Alez - 15/4/04 at 02:15 PM

Hi Gripenland,

I should stop thinking, you are absolutely correct!

timf - 15/4/04 at 02:22 PM

imagine if the car had an spd prop adaptor

Hellfire - 15/4/04 at 02:29 PM

Tim,

thats exactly what I thought when I first saw it

Gripenland, why is having the fuel tank behind the rear axle bad for vehicle dynamics????

IMHO It's also important when the tank is so close behind the engine, that there is some type of tank venting as temperature fluctuation is obviously greater. Also, in a fronter (crash) the engine (HOT) will be pushed into the tank (PETROL), which will presumably be where the battery (SPARKS) is and most of the electrics... I'm glad ours is to the back

Just had another thought - if you would like to fit a wind-deflector or windscreen, this may get in the way of the filler cap. Any overspill of fule would fall INTO the vehicle (via clocks), or over the bulkhead (near battery) oooeeerrrr....

[Edited on 15-4-04 by Hellfire]

timf - 15/4/04 at 03:09 PM

have a read of this

then think about where your fuel tank is and mine and most other peoples are in a 7

http://www.autosafetyexpert.com/fire.html

Gripenland - 15/4/04 at 03:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Hellfire


Gripenland, why is having the fuel tank behind the rear axle bad for vehicle dynamics????

IMHO It's also important when the tank is so close behind the engine, that there is some type of tank venting as temperature fluctuation is obviously greater. Also, in a fronter (crash) the engine (HOT) will be pushed into the tank (PETROL), which will presumably be where the battery (SPARKS) is and most of the electrics... I'm glad ours is to the back

Just had another thought - if you would like to fit a wind-deflector or windscreen, this may get in the way of the filler cap. Any overspill of fule would fall INTO the vehicle (via clocks), or over the bulkhead (near battery) oooeeerrrr....

[Edited on 15-4-04 by Hellfire]


Alez- Don't say that. Your thoughts vere justified, but fortunately some clever chap at Dax fixed the problem.


timf- What is a spd prop adaptor?

Hellfire- Weight behind the rear wheel axis will increase the forces required to turn the car.

You are absolutely right about about tank ventilation A heat shield would be a good idea. Also warm fuel= less HP

I work as a crash analyst at Volvo, so crash safety is very importent to me
Since BEC:s have transverse mounted engines the engine will have to bend a number of tubes at the rear bulkhead before it hits the tank.
As you say, some thought must go in to how the electics are packaged.

IMHO

Mark18 - 15/4/04 at 05:15 PM

I like the way dax has done it, I was thinking more along the lines of puitting the tank in the actual engine bay, the only thing that strikes me about the dax one it is that it looks very small.

the way I see it is that it has to be better than where it was, safety-wise and handling-wise, not to mention far less fuel lines (especially since I am using fuel injection).

Gripenland - 15/4/04 at 05:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark18
the only thing that strikes me about the dax one it is that it looks very small.


Yes, I'ts only 20 litres or so.