final thoughts before I replace my fuel tanks

[docf]

So a while back my passenger side (usa) tank rusted through and started dripping fuel. Once i diagnosed the problem I made a quicky workaround by mounting a small racing cell in the rear of my car just so I can avoid this nightmare job until I had the time. Well now it seems I have the time as well as a refinished set of tanks waiting to go in!

I just have a few reservations..

1. The lotus tanks are monstrously heavy. I fail to see the logic in using heavy gauge steel which is prone to rust and complete overkill given the location of the tanks and the high number of joints/seems. I am not putting the lotus tanks back in. There are just too many better ways to build a better mousetrap here.

2. There are lots of off the shelf polyethylene (plastic) tanks that will fit in that location. RCI makes an 8 gallon cell thats a perfect fit and a slightly taller 12 gallon tank should squeeze in as well.

3. The first option is a pair of 8 gallon tanks (they are 17"x17"x8") which would require lines to take fuel and vapors back and forth. The purist in me wants to do it this way so I can talk about "balance" and "engineering"

4. The second option is to put a single 12 (17"x17"x11") gallon tank on the passenger (right) side and use the cavity on the left to mount a nice dual core oil cooler setup with a fan, ducting, and direct air draw from under the car. This will be overbuilt and heavy enough to at least partially offset the weight of the single fuel tank on the other side. I figure my portly self will further contribute to correcting the weight imbalance. At ~6 pounds a gallon you're looking at 60 pounds of added weight to the right side of the car. You can half that once you add in the weight of the oil cooler apparatus.

Can someone give me a good reason to not go with #4??

PS I'm going to cut the old tanks out with a plasma cutter. Wish me luck.

[DanR]

There's the offset weight bias of the engine too.

I'd be interested in buying your old tanks. Don't know though if the shipping costs would be worth my while.

[rens914]

So a while back my passenger side (usa) tank rusted through and started dripping fuel. Once i diagnosed the problem I made a quicky workaround by mounting a small racing cell in the rear of my car just so I can avoid this nightmare job until I had the time. Well now it seems I have the time as well as a refinished set of tanks waiting to go in!

I just have a few reservations..

1. The lotus tanks are monstrously heavy. I fail to see the logic in using heavy gauge steel which is prone to rust and complete overkill given the location of the tanks and the high number of joints/seems. I am not putting the lotus tanks back in. There are just too many better ways to build a better mousetrap here.

2. There are lots of off the shelf polyethylene (plastic) tanks that will fit in that location. RCI makes an 8 gallon cell thats a perfect fit and a slightly taller 12 gallon tank should squeeze in as well.

3. The first option is a pair of 8 gallon tanks (they are 17"x17"x8") which would require lines to take fuel and vapors back and forth. The purist in me wants to do it this way so I can talk about "balance" and "engineering"

4. The second option is to put a single 12 (17"x17"x11") gallon tank on the passenger (right) side and use the cavity on the left to mount a nice dual core oil cooler setup with a fan, ducting, and direct air draw from under the car. This will be overbuilt and heavy enough to at least partially offset the weight of the single fuel tank on the other side. I figure my portly self will further contribute to correcting the weight imbalance. At ~6 pounds a gallon you're looking at 60 pounds of added weight to the right side of the car. You can half that once you add in the weight of the oil cooler apparatus.

Can someone give me a good reason to not go with #4??

PS I'm going to cut the old tanks out with a plasma cutter. Wish me luck.

i wouldn't choose the 4th option.

the balance of the car will be different

The original tanks aren't so heavy in my opinion

i had to replace them too but chose to restore them.

there is a special product on the market to repair tanks. it's something like polyester (inside of the tank). don't know the name. cost me 1/4 of new replacement tanks.

if you replace the tanks. make sure you dont put the piece of carpet back underneat your tanks

this is the main reason why your tanks got rusted through

rens