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VW Lounge => General Forum => Topic started by: njgt-1 on August 26, 2009, 01:07:57 pm

Title: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 26, 2009, 01:07:57 pm
Guys,

I might have mentioned that recently I started a mild "going over" of my Bradley GT. A couple of weeks ago Mike P & myself pulled the engine for a simple clutch job. As things go one thing led to another and I decided to fix a couple of things thats been nagging me since the last time the engine was out, around 12 years ago!

One problem that the car has had is the inability to fuel it from a gas pump! A few years ago when NJ started using the big rubber hose "Vapor recovery" system I found the car couldnot be filled from a gas pump and if you tried you got a "gas bath" in the process ( extra bad if you are smoking! ) Seems the single 1/4 tank vent wasn't enough to allow air in the tank to excape and the result was fuel shooting out of the filler. I've had to live with 5 gal. can fillups for quite a time but it looks like thats coming to an end.

Heres a couple of shots of a custom made gas tank I just got:

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/njgt-1/Bradley/P1010216.jpg?t=1251304876)

No Greg & Baja this isn't a water heater...

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/njgt-1/Bradley/P1010218.jpg?t=1251305526)

heres the top of the tank with the flat area for my gas tank sender and 2 vents..

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/njgt-1/Bradley/P1010217.jpg?t=1251305729)

I was able to order this from http://www.aluminumgastanks.net (http://www.aluminumgastanks.net)
these guys make spun aluminum tanks like what you would find on the back of a dune buggy but they also for a very reasonable fee build them to your spec. I got a 10"  x 30" 10 gallon round tank with 2 3/8" vents,a baffel, a place for my gas tank sender ( you have to cut this in yourself) and a side fill tank all for $235.00 delivered. they even include a set of powder coated mounting brackets.

I priced this idea out several ways including custom square tanks and adapting a marine tank from a boat ( that what the car originally had ) this seemed to be the best choice. If you are building a dune buggy, or a Baha or kit car and have a use for something like this drop them an e-mail, ask for a guy named Tim and tell em I sent ya!

I'll try to keep this one updated as I get this thing back together..

Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: lovebus (jack) on August 26, 2009, 03:45:20 pm
So do you have to make a hole in the top for your sender and a 90o elbow for the fill neck?
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 26, 2009, 04:50:01 pm
Quote
So do you have to make a hole in the top for your sender and a 90o elbow for the fill neck?

Yep!
all VDO senders don't use the same size bolt pattern, thats why they leave it up to the customer. I have a Triumph spitfire gas cap on the car that has a 90 degree
hose but I'm not sure yet if its staying. I found a couple of nice marine fuel fillers that I'm thinking about just haven't decided yet.
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: scarecrow on August 26, 2009, 05:25:51 pm
Yep!
all VDO senders don't use the same size bolt pattern, thats why they leave it up to the customer. I have a Triumph spitfire gas cap on the car that has a 90 degree
hose but I'm not sure yet if its staying. I found a couple of nice marine fuel fillers that I'm thinking about just haven't decided yet.
Why do you have to use a VDO. Summit Racing has every kind of guage you could imagine. They even list them in empty fill ohms so you can match to your gauge. That is unless I'm misunderstanding something
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: lovebus (jack) on August 26, 2009, 05:59:37 pm
Cool, looks well made.
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 27, 2009, 06:13:00 am
Quote
Why do you have to use a VDO. Summit Racing has every kind of guage you could imagine. They even list them in empty fill ohms so you can match to your gauge. That is unless I'm misunderstanding something

VDO gauge is already in the car and the sender I'm using is from the old tank and works fine
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: CAPTJACK on August 27, 2009, 10:20:33 pm
I HAVE SOME MARINE GAS FILLERS NEW IF YOUR TALKING ABOUT THE TYPE THAT ARE DECK MOUNTED AND YOU RUN A HOSE TO THE TANK
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 28, 2009, 06:13:00 am
Quote
I HAVE SOME MARINE GAS FILLERS NEW IF YOUR TALKING ABOUT THE TYPE THAT ARE DECK MOUNTED AND YOU RUN A HOSE TO THE TANK

Jack,

thats what I'm talkin about! If the Triumph filler doesn't work I'll let you know
thanks!
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: Yuma on August 28, 2009, 04:07:34 pm
Good looking tank  $61$  :icon_thumright: 

Does the tank have any type of protective coating on the inside ???
To protect it from acidic action   c23 


Yuma    ( Sonny )
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 28, 2009, 04:32:49 pm
Quote
Does the tank have any type of protective coating on the inside Huh
To protect it from acidic action

Yuma,

its spun aluminum should be safe even with the crappo gas we have today. Same thing you would see on dune buggies or sand rails.

heres what its replacing, this is steel and the inside isn't too bad but I have no idea how long its been in the car..

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/njgt-1/Bradley/P1010167.jpg?t=1251491765)

heres one more...got the tins back on the engine & cleaned them up, ain't she purdy !!

(http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv100/njgt-1/Bradley/P1010229.jpg?t=1251492073)
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: 6T5 square on August 28, 2009, 04:44:33 pm
 :icon_eek: :icon_eek: :icon_eek:

No wonder they keep it covered!

 The new one is too pretty to hide
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: Yuma on August 28, 2009, 07:24:25 pm
Thanks for the info   

It would be a shame to put that pretty engine next
to a nasty looking gas tank  shocked   rdone

Thanks again   Yuma
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 28, 2009, 09:12:54 pm
Quote
No wonder they keep it covered!

 The new one is too pretty to hide

thanks!
but the new one isn't going to show either. I'm building a stainless steel
firewall that will be between the tank & engine. I have the engine separated from the exhaust and the firewall will allow it to pull air from under the car. The idea is to keep it very similar to how a stock beetle setup keeps the hot air from recirculating around the engine compartment. I did this originally and never had a problem with it running hot.
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: jthw8 on August 28, 2009, 10:19:47 pm
The engine looks great Bob!  Might hafta pester you for some engine assistance on the new project when I finally get to that point.
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 29, 2009, 07:06:03 am
Quote
The engine looks great Bob!  Might hafta pester you for some engine assistance on the new project when I finally get to that point.

no problem! just give a shout.
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: matt on August 30, 2009, 11:45:30 am



  Looking good Bob,


  I knew you were working on something..

                    ................... despite what others were saying  :icon_wink:


Least you may be smiling a little bit about filling up your gas tank - shame gas prices put  adamper on that good feeling!



matt
Title: Re: Gas Tanks - not the stock kind!
Post by: njgt-1 on August 30, 2009, 05:36:05 pm
Quote
shame gas prices put  adamper on that good feeling!

Matt,

the tank is just 10 gallons but the Bradley gets really great mileage. Its just about 1400 lbs ( without me in it! ) and the engine is basically a 1641cc with an engle 100 and a stock carb so its more than enough to push the car down the road. I'll just be happy to fill it at the pump like everybody else.  drive&&