Thread: I need to move mounting brackets on my aluminum fuel cell?

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I have a aluminum fuel cell and need to move the brackets to make it fit my truck.The brackets are on the bottom of the tank right now and I would like to move them to the top to mount it under the bed.Any ideas would help.The brackets need to be cut off as it is .I only have 18 1/4" front to back to work with and the tank itself is 18 1/4" ,18 1/2" with brackets.So I am thinking a 2x2 angled aluminum 1/4" thinck across the sides extending passed the top edge 2".The brackets that are on there right now are to bolt it down,but now the tank is going to be hangin from the top brackets do you think it will work.I am also going to try to mig weld it.

You could hang the tank from rods with jamb nuts. I had to do that with mine for the same reason. I didn't feel like cutting the brackets off and rewelding them.Guess I was just lazy that day.
There's a picture of how I did it in my gallery

found a link to the tank,I think maybe I am going to have to go with 2 half inch by 1 inch bars welded across the top.





http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

How about hanging it with some straps off the crossmembers? Similar to how a stock tank is put in. The tank should be resting on some kind of support, and not just mounted with the 4 little tabs IMO.

I was thinking that it would be pretty good with 2x2 by 1/4" aluminum angle would hold it pretty good.The angle will run the length of the sides and extend passed each end 1 1/2" or so.Its a 15 gallon tank.

Does any one know how much 1 gallon of gas weighs?

gas weighs about 6 pounds per gallon, so you're going to have approx 80 poungs hanging from those tabs.... I've used the same type fuel tank on many cars and always mount them with straps all the way around the tank. I make both sides and the bottom as one strap, then the top as a separate strap and the straps are bolted to either the frame rails or crossmembers depending on which way I run them....

Yeah, what Dave said jumped right out at me too. I don't think you should hang an aluminum tank that will end up weighing 90 or so lbs just from four little tabs. I have an aluminum tank in my '27, and at first I just built a angle iron framework around it. The first time I put gas in it, the center bellied down from the weight of the fuel. So I cut a 3/16 inch thick aluminum plate and made a complete floor for it to sit on.

I think all that weight hanging on aluminum will distort it and stress it to the point of cracking where the brackets are put on, particularly when you are bouncing down the highway.

JMO,


Don

Not only just the normal highway bouncing and banging, but consider what is going to happen to those aluminum tabs in the event of (Heaven frobid) any kind of impact tearing one of those welded tabs out of the tank, and having all that gas dumping out........ Ugly thought but it should be a consideration......

Calm down fellas ! I have been trying to post since last night, I haven't been able to get into the site. something is wrong.I stood back and looked at it ,and yes the best way is to mount it with straps!I would still like to mount some tabs to go against the frame from underneath.You know, to keep the tank from going up.Can this be done with mig spool gun easily.I have been welding since I was 10 years old with a mig,but never miged aluminum.It would on be 1/8" tabs to the tank.(the ones I cut off of the bottom)

Another question ,If you look at the tank on the summit page,is that the back or the front?Doesn't the fuel sump go to the furthest back,and lowest in a tank.Meaning those outlets go to the rear of the truck.

Originally Posted by BigTruckDriver

Calm down fellas ! I have been trying to post since last night, I haven't been able to get into the site. something is wrong.I stood back and looked at it ,and yes the best way is to mount it with straps!I would still like to mount some tabs to go against the frame from underneath.You know, to keep the tank from going up.Can this be done with mig spool gun easily.I have been welding since I was 10 years old with a mig,but never miged aluminum.It would on be 1/8" tabs to the tank.(the ones I cut off of the bottom)

Another question ,If you look at the tank on the summit page,is that the back or the front?Doesn't the fuel sump go to the furthest back,and lowest in a tank.Meaning those outlets go to the rear of the truck.

You could weld some tabs, personally I prefer the straps over the top of the tank, too. The fittings go to the rear so they will pick up fuel under acceleration. Actually, the pic you have on this thread is more of a circle track tank then a drag car tank. The drag car and street car tank has a sump on the bottom and two fittings for the supply line if large volumes of fuel are needed. Your tank has one supply line with a sump in the right rear corner of the tank, and a vent line. Best to also put a rollover line in the vent, too. Also, might want to use some rubber between the straps and the tank to prevent the straps from digging into the tank.

Yes I amdefinitely going to use a rubber lining ,maybe 1/8" or 1/4".I figure the outlet and inlet go to the rear of the truck.I am just asking cause my "bro in law" came by and swore up and down ,and said it was wrong ,wrong ,wrong.the oulet goes to the front.I told him ya I guess it could if you were planing at sitting at a stop light all day.He got pissed and left saying I was wrong

The tank I showed (Not Summit tank) has a fuel sump with two outlets on the other side(bottom of tank) .I didn't get it in the pick though,but its on the other side. It looks like the summit pic on the other side

Dumb question, but can you MIG aluminum? I thought only TIG worked in it.


Don

Don you can MIG aluminum, but besides the wire you have to use pure Argon gas (which as I recall is pretty pricey). The welds while servicable are usually pretty ugly especially when compared with one done by a TIG.

They even have an aluminum Arc welding rod out, but that is REALLY ugly.