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Fuel Cells?

6K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  Crazy Mopar Guy 
#1 ·
I was doing my late night "wishing" and going through a JEGS catalog. I ran across several things I want to ask about, but this might be a lamebrain question. Can someone explain to me the technical ideas behind "fuel cells"? I just see the pictures, but am pretty clueless as to the how and why.
 
#2 ·
Fuel cells are generally used in race cars, as a safer alternative to gas tanks. Some have special baffles in them, some have a foam in them, some have a bladder, so they won't spill if upended.

most people don't use them in street cars.
 
#4 ·
The best fuel cells are a rubber like bladder contained in a sheetmetal can or enclosure. The can holds the shape and protects against minor impacts. The bladder gives or flexes around objects that puncture the can. Some are foam filled and this helps prevent fuel slosh and other things. These are expensive and some companies will custom make them to your desired shape!
Other so called fuel cells are nothing more that poly or aluminum gas tanks with the word fuel cell attached to make them sound race related. They do offer multiple fuel pick up and return fittings usually
Do a yahoo search for fuel cells and search some of the sites.
Hope this helps,hvyeqpmech
 
#5 ·
fuel cells pro's and con's

They do look cool, makes a street car look more like a race car but they don't carry much fuel and you must have extra fuel with you unless you have the cell with the fuel gage sending unit. Other wise you have no gas gage and it gets hairy on a trip trying to calculate your fuel mileage and fuel consumption. I am changing over to the 20+ gal fuel cell/gas tank's.


Todd


Rat Rods Rule!
 
#7 ·
A minitrucker friend down the road has a fuel cell in his Ranger. Hes got the 20 gal. with foam in it, and it works wonderfully for his truck. His new backhalf is made to form around the fuel cell, caging it in. He reused his stock sender to get the gas guage to work.

Why didn't he use his stock gas tank? Its big, ugly, and plastic. He would have put a hole in it real quick... (well, he did put holes in 3 other gas tanks before he got the fuel cell) Airbags are fun. lol
 
#8 ·
Fuel cells come in all shapes and sizes... ATL makes some of the higher end pieces. Steel enclosures with foam and bladders. Jazz and RCI are available from Summit or Jegs and come in sizes up to 32 gallons with foam and fuel senders... They have their uses in Pro-Street, Street Rods, Trucks, Nascar, Drag cars, etc., etc. Wherever you have a need for a non stock tank there is one available to fit your car.
Mark
 
#10 ·
Not "legal"???
They are legal where I live/drive?!?!

I made my own out of aluminum, shaped/sized it to what I needed, built in a rear sump, added baffles and a compartment type area for the fuel sender, then had it tig welded.

I hear the foam blocks break down, and make their way into the lines/filters.
Anybody had this happen to them?
 
#11 ·
Crazy Mopar Guy said:
Not "legal"???
They are legal where I live/drive?!?!
9) Currently, fuel cells are not legal for use on vehicles operated on public roads. We haven't found a fuel cell that has been approved for on-highway use by the department of transportation (D.O.T), and a fuel cell won't pass the visual inspection by a smog referee even if the factory fuel cap, filler tube, and all emission equipment are in place. What this means is that if your truck was built after 1974, you won't pass a smog inspection with a fuel cell installed. Trucks built before 1974 aren't subject to smog inspections, so you'll be safe. Any cop worth his doughnuts, however, will issue you a citation for having a fuel cell installed on your truck if he or she catches you on a public street. There are companies working to gain executive order (E.O) numbers for fuel cells, and when we find a street-legal cell, we'll be sure to let you know.

(excerpt from http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/0310or_fuelcell/ )
 
#12 ·
Well, I went through emissions testing 7 years in a row with an aluminum fuel cell in my Pro Street 1971 Dodge Demon.
It passed every time.

There is no "citation" I have ever seen that deals with fuel cells. Many of my friends have them, I presently own TWO cars with them. I see them on street cars at the track, at the drive-in, etc, etc, etc...

I live in B.C. Canada.
 
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