For what it's worth: I had a top of the line fuel cell made for my 57
plus four by Fuel Safe, the California-based supplier to the
autoracing world. I sent them my tank, which was rusty but solid, they
fitted a neoprene bladder inside with foam baffles, solid state gas
guage, new filler neck made also from neoprene. In the car, it looks
stock, with a flat-black paint job. A nice-looking piece of goods.
Cost: about US$800 delivered. Once I got it into the car, put the
rollbar in (in front of the gas can) and put gas in it, it LEAKED!
Weeping around the edges of an oval aluminum plate on the front, which
is usually covered up with "upholstery". Needless to say, I was
steamed about this, but it being three days before the first race date
and since the leak was modest, I doped the whole thing up and forgot
about it. (They said if I shipped it back right away, they'd fix it,
but that would have taken months...) It still weeps and I don't smoke
cigars around the car any more, but I still feel that if I get shunted
at Lime Rock or Pocono that my chances are better than with the
original tin can. I clean the whole thing off before going out on the
track and keep minimum gas in it during track work anyway, just what's
needed. It only leaks a drop or two per day.
My message to all of you is: if you get a fuel cell, fill it up with
gas before you put it in the car to test it, even if you're buying the
Rolls Royce of fuel cells, because you're not going to want to pull it
back out again once you get it all reassembled.
Also, don't be a last-minute rebuilder like me. Do things months in
advance.
Also; eat your broccoli, exercise regularly and don't smoke cigars!
Race season starts in one month!
Chip Brown
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