Alternate fuel tank

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Here's an interesting question, as part of my project I may eventually have a folding soft top which I would want to be concealed under the rear deck when folded down, I suspect the wouldn't be quite enough room in the parcel shelf area for it, so I was thinking of re-locating the fuel tank to allow for a deeper parcel shelf. One option is to fit a tank in the bottom of the boot, similar to the estate conversions. However this would reduce boot space and make it a little more dangerous in a rear end collision.

The other option is to fit the tank under the rear seats, which is the norm with modern cars, however most of these are FWD so don't have a big prop-shaft to worry about. However I was thinking 3/5 series BMW tank might do the job.

Anybody ever considered this before ?
 
Volvo 360s (the ones with the proper Volvo engine) had the gearbox in the rear end & the tank was shaped to straddle the torque tube/gearbox so this would give enough space for a propshaft. However with the 340 (the ones with the Renault engines) although they had the same gearbox set up the tank was a small "normal" one mounted under the boot floor so that could be an option

Regards Colin
 
Interesting problem.

I think the solution would depend on the sort of range you will travel. Do you need a 300 mile range?

would a custom made item be better. I think you could get a decent size tank in the space at half the height.

I am sure a welding whizz like you can knock something up before breakfast.


Colin
 
The tank should be as far forward as practicable, not only for rear end collision avoidance, but also to keep the polar moment of inertia down. That's the consideration that causes air cooled Porsches to bite the driver when they let go - with all that weight at the extreme end, once they've started to spin they're not going to stop!

There must be some space to be won in the two triangles formed by the driveshafts, prop and trailing arms? Since you are certain to be using non standard seat bases perhaps this area could be extended upwards at the expense of thinner seat cushions? If you don't feel like trying it yourself there are lots of people out there in the racing fraternity able to make up bespoke alloy tanks.

Another option would be to remake the back wall of the boot backwards somewhat and then build a tank to go right up to the de dion tube. Only snag with that is that you then need to acquire a new pick up point for the panhard rod to the diff, perhaps it could go up to the bottom of the hood well.

Chris
 
Thanks guys, I've just bought a set of 216 Cabriolet seats which I intend to use, the 200 has the tank under the rear seats (although it doesn't have a propshaft etc), so I suspect the cushions will be reasonably thin, once I've got them I'll be able to see what the base is like. Lifting the floor would be a definate posibility.
 
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