How to mount the fuel cell, in my IMSA 914? Options

[FourBlades]

Thinking about how to mount the fuel cell in my IMSA 914 so it will comply with most vintage, SCCA, and PCA rules.

The original cell was mounted in a square of angle iron that was welded very securely to the floor of the front trunk. It was welded to some 1/8" thick plates welded to the trunk pan and was really hard to cut out even though everything was rusted badly.



At the top the cell was held on by angle iron bolted to the trunk bulkhead through the lip of the cell. It was also held on at the front using some small steel straps. I think you need more straps going all the way around the cell now.



I was thinking of making a similar rectangular frame from 1/8 x 1" angle iron and welding that to plates welded to the trunk using some stand offs to raise the tank high enough to clear the oil cooler shroud. Then going vertically around the tank with some steel straps and securing the rear of the cell to the bulkhead.

I was going to leave enough room in the frame to line it with some rubber gasket material to prevent direct metal contact, good idea or not?



I could tie it into the front trunk tubes but that does not seem like the right thing to do. I also want to make sure all the oil and fuel stuff can be removed, serviced and replaced before I go welding crazy. I may have to make a 2 piece oil cooler shroud to make it removable with the front trunk cross bar.



I can really use some help from the community on this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif)

Thanks...John

[ChrisFoley]

How about two angle irons, spanning between the forward upright tubes and the bulkhead. Drill through holes for the cover bolts and hang the fuel cell on the end flanges. Then add an upright reinforcement from each angle iron down to the horizontal tubes, just ahead of the fuel cell.
That would be sturdy enough.

[FourBlades]

How about two angle irons, spanning between the forward upright tubes and the bulkhead. Drill through holes for the cover bolts and hang the fuel cell on the end flanges. Then add an upright reinforcement from each angle iron down to the horizontal tubes, just ahead of the fuel cell.
That would be sturdy enough.

I never thought of that approach, it sounds like it would work.

Do any of the current series state clearly what is required in mounting a fuel cell or is it vaguely worded? I would hate to get it all nicely put together only to find out the straps have to be 2" and I used 1.5".