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Fuel supply... can i add a mini surge tank?
dan8400 - 18/1/10 at 01:54 PM

my petrol tank has no baffles and the pipe comes out of the bottom of the tank. There is no surge tank (i think thats what it's called). No where for petrol to sit in a tight bend so i don't starve the engine of fuel.
Is there anything i can add (without changing the tank... short on £££) I'm thinking a small container under the petrol tank or similar. Or how about adding a clear plastic filter immediatly after the tank (just for extra capacity)

Scratching my head...... lol

Thanks
Dan


Mr Whippy - 18/1/10 at 02:04 PM

my r/c heli has this, called a header tank to keep the engine running while doing aerobatics, same thing needed for your car. Though you could possably just use a swirl pot.

In the pic the fuel comes out the big tank into the small tank (which is always full) there is a flexable pickup inside both tanks but you don't need that unless you like running the car upsides down



[Edited on 18/1/10 by Mr Whippy]


tegwin - 18/1/10 at 02:06 PM

Fit a swirl pot...

Use a low pressure "lift pump" to draw fuel from the main tank into the little pot... and then a high pressure pump into your engine...


Mr Whippy - 18/1/10 at 02:09 PM

your probably going to have to make something that is IVA ok unless you have already been through that so simple plastic bottles may not be a good idea. Remember petrol is dangerous.


dan8400 - 18/1/10 at 02:24 PM

Already on the road. Had a 1.8 pinto before, just fitting a 1.8 zetec on bike carbs. Will be a little more exciting to drive i hope!! Just got me worried about higher corner speeds (especially on exit) and didn't want to starve the engine.


blakep82 - 18/1/10 at 02:35 PM

not something i've given much thought before, so might be lacking in some detail

if you were to mount something like these slightly below the fuel tank outlet i think it should fill up by gravity. the fuel pump then pumps from this to the carbs. the swirl pot should then hold enough fuel for when the tank pickup is left dry, and refill when its back under the fuel

wouldn't the float bowls in the carbs hold enough anyway? i'd wait and see how it is on the road or track before worrying too much

[Edited on 18/1/10 by blakep82]


dan8400 - 18/1/10 at 02:41 PM

something like that would do the trick. However, i take your point on trying it without first. The float bowls hold quite a bit. Would have to be a long corner on full chat to use it all surely. Mind you, i've been wrong before


blakep82 - 18/1/10 at 02:49 PM

my fuel tank has a flat bottom to it too think i might end up with a similar problem. with the way my carbs are mounted, i don't think they're ideal for filling up properly either, but theres no other way to do it!


dhutch - 18/1/10 at 02:52 PM

Yeah i have to say, i have a full width tank behind the rear axle thats about 8inchs square in section with a take of at the front right hand corner.
- Tanks sloped about 10deg (chassis rails are sloped) and this feeds into a redtop pump onto the dellortos and works fine.

If i run it really low (students eh..) then the pump start running a bit erratically but the car carries on driving for a good 5miles or more. Then as the carbs empty it starts splutting and you have about 20yards till its game over.

Never had any problems on track or anytime time tanks actaully got anything in it.


Daniel

[Edited on 18/1/2010 by dhutch]


dan8400 - 18/1/10 at 02:59 PM

It's not the air that'll be the problem (i'm guessing now lol). It's that the pump will be sucking air not petrol (so maybe air is the problem ). Unless i keep it full of fuel. Which will mean filling up every 3 or 4 hundred yards!!!

[Edited on 18/1/10 by dan8400]


blakep82 - 18/1/10 at 03:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by dan8400
Unless i keep it full of fuel. Which will mean filling up every 3 or 4 hundred yards!!!



what size/shape is your tank?!


dan8400 - 18/1/10 at 03:39 PM

Not sure on the actual size but a tank never lasts as long as my 530d