From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: Fuel tank
To: flyrotary
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 15:34:58 -0500
Message-ID: <web-3131716@logan.com>
In-Reply-To: <000001c414e7$de903490$6502a8c0@office>
References: <000001c414e7$de903490$6502a8c0@office>
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Posted for "marc" <cardmarc@charter.net>:

Charlie,
Ahah, your reasoning is flawless, IF I just wanted to transport fuel in
a pickup truck bed (you could go to Tractor Supply and buy the units
they have pre-made for that and forget about it-farmers have dozens of
those as do heavy equipment contractors so they are commercially
available)- BUT- I have designed the shape of the tank to fit INSIDE the
airplane behind the back seat as a 'long range auxiliary tank' and want
to use it for BOTH uses (must have a)-low point water drain(s), b) vent
with roll over protection c) fuel filler provisions to attach to aux
inlet with backflow valve d) recess to allow a entire Mazda fuel pump
assy. to fit in the top side and reach bottom of tank e) inlet/outlets
if not in fuel pump assy, f) fuel gauge [although the great thing about
using a stock Mazda pump assy is that it has the pump, the pre-filter,
the fuel float for the (mostly very accurate) stock gauge, and the low
level warning light all in one assy!] g) tiedown provisions h) what ever
else I have forgotten but will have to add.  I have the patterns made
from cardboard to fit the area for the shape and size of the tank and
whatever inlets/outlets/pumps/gauges/openings I need. Gussets with holes
in them (water at the bottom must get to low point drain without being
blocked) and a baffle around the pickup to prevent sloshing and
starvation in unusual attitudes near pickup hose. How's them for apples.
It was a lot of work doing that.
  What gauge AL would you use for such a tank?-remember this tank must be
self supporting and rest on the floor.
Places like Summit Racing will make one for me (plastic or alum, and
even with foam retardant filling supposedly compatible with all
gasolines) but that way is not the spirit of "homebuilding"! Plus I want
to perfect my al welding skills. So it will be hydrostatically tested as
well.

Marc Wiese


> Being lazy & cheap, my 1st response would be to pay $10 for a steel 55
> gal drum. If you really want an AL tank, why not just use a/c grade AL
> sheet & assemble the 6 sides & internal stiffening ribs with proseal &
> rivets?
> 
> If you really want to weld, how about welding the lid on one of those
AL
> tool boxes made to hang in the bed of a pickup?