I think you mean the foam _and bladder_, in which case, yes, this is the
common way to mount the cell. Without the bladder, you wouldn't have much
but a regular gas tank with some foam in it! But, assuming that the
foam-filled bladder is supported adequately, it is definitely the way to go,
regardless of vintage.
I replaced the gas tank in my '50 XK120 with a bladder suspended in an 18 ga
aluminum "box" and was very glad I did -- I lost the car in a big way coming
out of turn one at Road America a few years ago (not a slow corner) and
backed the car into the concrete wall on the inside of the track, bending
the frame behind the rear axle. The stock tank would most probably have
been ruptured.
As far as I'm concerned, a fuel cell is just as important as belts, helmet
and rollbar.
Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: clark <clark@dnf.com>
To: vintage-race@autox.team.net <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 9:17 PM
Subject: Fuel Cells
>Hi All,
>
>I had the opportunity to visit a fellow list member's shop today to examine
>a car he's building. One thing that intrigued me was his fuel cell. He
>had had a welder make essentially a box out of aluminum in which he had
>inserted the Fuel Safe foam. It seems so simple that it requires that I
>ask a few naive questions:
>
>First, what separates a "fuel cell" from a "fuel tank", by definition?
>
>Second, is aluminum the best material? What guage aluminum is common? Is
>steel not used only because of weight? (Steel can be coated so it won't
>rust.)
>
>Third, the tops of the Fuel Safe appear to be screwed on, is this for easy
>replacement of the foam, or ease of manufacture?
>
>Fouth, how many vintage racers with cars '60 and prior run bladders in
>their cells?
>
>Last, are there mandatory fillers, vents, and fittings?
>
>Thanks for your thoughts.
>
>Clark
>
>
>"Hay Bales and Asphalt"
>a video featuring vintage footage
>of motor racing from 1957 to 1961.
>Images and description at
>http://www.dnf.com
>
>My 1953 Devin-Porsche Restoration project
>http://www.dnf.com/devin-porsche.html
>
>
>
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