Why is it so easy to fit a fuel cell in an early Mustang? | Project vintage race Mustang

Tim
Update by Tim Suddard to the Ford Mustang Fastback project car
Apr 4, 2022

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Photography by Tim Suddard

Our vintage race Mustang needed a fuel cell. Cobra Automotive’s Curt Vogt recommended a cell that fills from the top–so via the trunk rather than the stock fuel filler–and to plumb it with -8  (1/2-inch internal diameter) fittings to make sure we get enough fuel to the engine.

How much capacity? A 22-gallon cell should carry enough fuel for endurance events while meeting our class rules. For about $1500, Fuel Safe had what we needed: an endurance race fuel cell for an early Mustang that bolts into the stock fuel tank location. No fabrication, no customization.

The Fuel Safe cell includes the bladder, baffling foam, aluminum can and fill plate. Options include remote filling, custom colors and collectors. A 16-gallon, bolt-in fuel cell for the early Mustang is also offered.

Once we drilled the trunk floor and test-fitted the cell, we took it back out and sealed in the cell with silicon-based caulk. The cell installed easily and fit perfectly.

While we were working in the trunk area, we also remounted the Jegs battery hold-down setup that came with our car, moving it a bit forward.

While doing this, we noticed a bit of rust beneath the mount. Obviously, having rust in this area is a very bad idea, so we welded in a sizable plate and repainted everything before refitting our battery.

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Comments
CAinCA
CAinCA GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
4/1/22 1:14 p.m.

" 8.5-inch fittings"

berkeley, that's HUGE!!!! Is this thing going to get gallons per mile? Metric conversion issue?

 

;^)

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
4/1/22 2:02 p.m.

In reply to CAinCA :

Let me check on that for you.

nocones
nocones GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
4/1/22 3:14 p.m.

Fairly sure you want the copy to say "-8 AN fittings" which would be used with 1/2" hose.  

 

I recently purchased a FIA FT3 rated Fuel Cell from Fuel Safe for the LMP360.  Fuel Safe was great to work with and made a small customization adding a -6 return to the off the shelf "Wedge" type cell for a very reasonable upcharge.  Lead time was reasonable at about 6 weeks order to my door.   I was worried about shipping my large $800 dentable item but Fuel Safe did an amazing job packing it in a way oversized box and it arrived in perfect condition.  

+1 will purchase again in 5 years when the FIA cert expires. 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
4/1/22 3:32 p.m.

In reply to CAinCA :

Should of read -8 (Dash eight) fittings with 1/2-inch internal diameter.

I've updated the text to avoid further confusion.

Because you can slide it in from the back seat?  Just ask Ralph Nader.  They finally fixed it after a couple of lawsuits and people got flambe'ed.

rustomatic
rustomatic Reader
4/2/22 5:53 p.m.

That is a lovely cell, but the rear-end crash protection is just about nil in stock body form.  That of course makes the cell a bigger, better safety feature . . .

Tim Suddard
Tim Suddard Publisher
4/28/22 10:53 a.m.

A cell is theoretically not going to catch on fire, and that is why you run one over the stock tank. We plan to run some enduros, so were trying to max fuel capacity. This is the biggest most every sanctioning body we will run with allows.

And no, fuel mileage won't be that great on this project.

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