I am a little confused when it comes to the operation of the fuel tank, though the concept is simple. Why does the tank have all of the vent lines (not the evaporative emissions stuff) going to the front of the car and terminating in the engine compartment? I want to install a fuel cell, so what kind of vent lines will I need. I am confused. Has anyone done a writeup on their fuel cell installation?

-David

Vent lines? Only two lines running to the engine compartment as far as I know. One fuel feed line, one return line. I ran the return line on the mine to a bulkhead fitting on the top of the fuel cell on the 280 I had. It was simple to drill a hole in the top fill plate and put on the bulkhead fitting, then I put a line on the bottom so the fuel would go to the bottom of the cell quicker. All the evaporative lines to the vapor canister got yanked out along with the canister itself. Only other lines I can think of you may be referring to might be the lines to the charcoal canister on the FI cars.

According to "How to Restore Your Datsun Z Car" one is the fuel line, one the return line, and one goes to the flow guide valve from the cannister. My flow guide valve line was never connected (previous removed most emissions junk). So is the function of the fuel return line to put air into the tank to replace the spent fuel? My engine is out right now, so does the return line connect to the intake?

Not sure what you are thinking as A fuel cell. There are many types out there. The kind most ppl. think of is the floor mounted. With this style the mounting in A nissan Z will take some real work. The first thing to think about is that you will have to cut out the spare tire hole and weld it in as A flat floor.

This is the way I am going. I have other things in line first. But will be posting photos as I go.

Now where to put the spare. I have picked up A spare tire hanger from A 99 chevy 1500 pick-up. This will be welded on the plate that will cover the hole where the spare use to sit. Now you have A flat rear floor for your cell & the spare is held up under the car.

Dont try this @ home!! Have A real body shop do this work!!:stupid:

I'm going to cut out the spare tire well and weld in a box where it and the gas tank was. Mounting it above is more dangerous spill wise in a bad collision and it raises the center of gravity. I just wish I Summit would provide dimensions on their cells so I didn't have to order it now.

If you are going to be racing in SCCA, make sure the cell has the right safety rating. I know a lot of the ones that Summit sells would not be legal in SCCA, they are OK for NHRA and such, but don't have the proper ratings for SCCA events.

(I'm going to cut out the spare tire well and weld in a box where it and the gas tank was. Mounting it above is more dangerous spill wise in a bad collision and it raises the center of gravity.)

As far as dangerous not true. With the fuel cell sold in summit & jegs there made SFI certified with that they have A foam liner. With proper vents they can not spill.

The center of gravity will change with the top mount. But if you want this for the street aswell where are you putting A spare tire?

I would hate to leave my baby on the side of A road (after all this $ & work) for A flat.

But thats just my .02 on it.:tapemouth

Rather than spend time and effort on the spare tire, why not get a cellular telephone and a AAA card? In addition to freeing up space, they weigh less than the spare, too.

I have AAA gold & cell. I had the same thought till stuck with A flat no signal for the phone. hooked A ride called AAA and 2 hours later A stinger tow truck shows. That wont work with my car because it was too low and needed a flatbed tow. @ that point I told myself that will never happen to me again. spare or run flats 4 me.

I installed a summit fuel cell, I removed the space well and installed a flat floor in the back of the car. I also installed a place in the floor for the sump to go. My experiance has been mostly good. I did run only one line to the front, and vented though the floor. I have had no problems from fumes in the car, of noticed any differance from raised center of gravity. But, I wish I had bought the cell that was inclosed in alluminum instead of the all plastic cell. The plastic cell has begun to sag in the middle. Probably because of the sun heating it through the rear window. I also think it would have added more stiffness to the rear of the car. The spare well adds considerable strength to the back of the car. Good luck.

When I install my fuel cells, I cut the floor out completely between the rear frame rails and from about 3" foreward of the rear of the compartment to just behind the strut towers.

I then use 1/8" wall 1" square tubing to build two cross members between the rear rails. From these two cross members I hang the rest of the cage using thinner wall 1" square tubing. The triangulation helps to keep any twisting of the rear frame rails down. You could also add another diagonal bisecting the rear rectangle of the cell cage if you wanted. I then cover the hole in the floor with a thin aluminum firewall with a trap-door hatch to get to the fill nozzle.

I've always had good luck with ATL cells. I did have to put a good Holley Blue fuel pump with a regulator to get the fuel out of the cell. BTW, I can get ATL cells and parts for about 10% off retail if you are interested.