Gas Tank In Front

To what purpose would you do this? Trunk space is already at a premium, the early cars with the un-anchored spare tire had the tire slamming into the windshield in crash tests, and it will leave you with a large, unused space where the gas tank now is. You'll be running eight or so feet of fuel line under the car, exposed, or in the cabin to keep it not exposed and neither of those options sound like great ideas at all. Is your tank now leaking? Small leaks can be fixed with the tank in place. Again, what is your motivation?

Larry

[This message has been edited by LF - Teach Peace (edited 01-21-2004).]

My '71 racecar has a fuel cell that was custom-built to wrap around the car's roll cage that crosses in front on its way to where it ties into the suspension mounts. The cell is pretty small - only about 11 gallons - and I'm REALLY glad that the prior owner paid the design and fabrication costs. Also, mounting the cell in front would probably require that the foot box be removed and the stock pedals and brake and clutch master cylinders moved to remote locations, requiring more costly work. I think that, unless you're planning on racing your car, this is an expensive and complex undertaking. I'm told that some vendors can custom-make fuel cells that fit in the stock location although before starting on that undertaking I'd look into whether it would be legal for vintage racing.

Matt Merritt
#2171
mmerritt@eventvehicles.com

Guys thanks for your input. I plan on using the car for some track days. My stock tank is in great shape. In fact, I recently had it boiled, pressure tested and powdered coated.I come from a motorcycle roadracing background. I've seen alot of what can happen at high speeds!
Its more of a safty issue more than anything else. Just didn't like the idea of having a tin can full of fuel sitting behind me next to a hot engine at high speed.For me, the SafeFuel tank with a impact bladder seemed like the only way to go, just a matter of location.
Really wanted to here from the track guys like Matt_M if they noticed any negative effects in handling with the transfer of weight to the front.

Thanks again guys for your input! Anyone else?

I have a bunch of images of Bud Greene's car. He had a fuel cell built for the front. I don't know his reasons for this.
The car is being / was sold by PI, so there may be images on line there (here, as they sponsor this board)

For racing...the weight for a 10 gallon tank (full)is about 80 pounds. As you race, the weight changes. As the weight is over/near the front axis line (versus the car center) it will have some effect or feeling change.

Chuck

Chuck,I looked for Bud Moores car but it must have been sold. The front gas tank was a thought. As you mentioned, it doesn't seem too feasible.

Thanks

Some race-only Panteras relocated the tank to the front rrunk, but they used full tube frames DEnnis Quellas fiberglas clone-Pantera uses this arrangement. If you did this with a stock Pantera, I suspect there will be a LOT of cutting required to get a same-volume tank in there. And the front trunk as it is now, is also the bracing for the entire front suspension as well as the main deflector for hot air exiting the radiator. A smaller volume tank could be fabricated to fit as-is, but that high-mounts the fuel load (gas weighs 6.8 lbs/gallon) and requires the battery to be shifted to the rear which partly zeros out any gains from moving the tank.
FYI, the factory LeMans racing Gr-4 Panteras ran two 12-gallon fuel cells, one on either side of the engine rather than a wholesale shift to the front This improved the cross-car balence, allowed short fuel lines and didn't force a change in the front suspension bracing.

Jack, understand what your saying.I'm not looking upset the balance of the car.Stock location it is.

Thanks again everyone for your input!

I moved my gas tank to the front, and moved my battery to a location near the starter,
It seems to me that most cars on the road have a fuel line going from one end of the car to the other. Did I miss something here?

quote:

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Originally posted by Wes Jones:
I moved my gas tank to the front, and moved my battery to a location near the starter,
It seems to me that most cars on the road have a fuel line going from one end of the car to the other. Did I miss something here?

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Do you have any pictures?

quote:

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Originally posted by Danno:
Thinking of relocating gas tank and installing a FuelSafe tank in the front truck area? Anyone have any ideas or thoughts as to the disadvantages of this, weight transfer etc....?

Thanks

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Fuel tank in the front was widley used (Sweden) back in the 80:s. I dont like the idea. It changes the weight distribution of the car. Both lenghtwise and in height. And we do not want any more weight up front. The car has a pretty low front centre of gravity, and a filled up tank would be about the highest located weight here. That dissappear when emptey. This affect the cars balance much more then a centre located tank. If for any reason more weight is desired in the front, it is much better to locate the battery low down over the water pipes.
A gas tank should be located so that the altered weight does not influence weight distribution. And as LOW as possible. The last place is ABOWE the axles. Well, there is a place even worse. In FRONT of the front axle.
Goran Malmberg.

You might want to look up Greg Esakoff. He originally had a fuel safe tank in the front (which is now nestled in the front of my car). I have not driven my car yet so cannot offer any input on driveability but the tank is a 12 gallon if I am not mistaken and required modification of brake system which I had done anyway.

What did Greg put in his car to replace the fuel cell?

I am not sure. I have not spoken with him since I bought the tank. I am guessing that he put something back in the original area for higher capacity but that is only a guess.