Re: Fuel tank crud & rusting-out; possible ultimate solution?

[CFritz7001@aol.com]

There has been a lot of recent correspondence re. two related problems with T-type fuel tanks: Rusting out and/or developing layers of crud. I can't help but wonder if anyone has considered gutting the fuel tank completely, then installing a modern "fuel-cell" within the shell that's left? There are several outfits that make up custom-sized / shaped fuel cells for racing cars. These cells amount to a multi-layered bladder made of coated fabric, which is often filled with an open-celled "foam" to keep the fuel from sloshing about. Seems to me that one of these cell-makers might be persuaded to develop and produce ones which would fit within T-type tanks. I could be wrong, but I think that the TA, TB, and TC models could all use the same unit, and the TD & TF might also share a second style. (It might even be that a "0ne-style-fits-all" could suffice.)

Seems to me that, since original-style replacement tanks cost as much as $850 (Moss for a TC) and are somewhat scarce, a custom-made fuel cell should be a viable and even affordable alternative.

This approach would still preserve the original appearance of the car, but give the benefits of a non-rustable tank, which is impervious to attack by fuel additives, PLUS being much less likely to be penetrated in case of an accident. The only down side I can think of right now is that one MIGHT have to do without the fuel-level warning setup, which may not be that much of a loss at that.

Another thought just occurred to me: How about mounting a more or less stock fuel cell in the space beneath the luggage compartment, leaving the original tank in place for cosmetic reasons, but not using it for fuel? A filler neck could then be connected through the rear of the body and the front of the existing tank, connecting to the original fuel-tank inlet.

Right now, I'm too preoccupied with planning a trip to England with my TC to look into this idea myself. If this idea has any merit, is there someone out there who would "take up the cudgels" and do some investigating?

Any volunteers?
Regards to all,
Carl Fritz

[Mark McCombs]

Carl-
Before I bought my TC, I looked at a TF where the guy did just that, ie, he left his original tank in place but unused, and utilised a motorboat type gas can, around 5 gal, that he could lift in and out of the area behind the seats. He said he did it for reasons of gas going stale, that he could fill his lawn mower up from it, get fresh gas in the spring, ect. But he probably had had enough of the typical leaks and rust. Done correctly, it doesnt look bad and puts the gas away from collision areas, BUT in the back of the cockpit!

Regards
Mark McCombs
49 TC EXU