Tapping the Tank...

[Doric]

Those of you who have tapped your fuel tanks - what'd you do in terms of preparation before drilling? You know, so as to avoid blowing yourself up?

[Steel Chicken]

they'd post up, but they're dead

lulz

[JohnF]

lmao!

[b727pic]

Those of you who have tapped your fuel tanks - what'd you do in terms of preparation before drilling? You know, so as to avoid blowing yourself up?

I took mine to my local speed shop........said "call me when its done!":)

[mistermike]

I wimped out and got a sumped tank. If you blow yours up and miraculously survive, I've got a couple spare tanks for sale.

[Doric]

Sumped tank does sound really awesome, but I don't know that I can pull $700 out of my ass.

[quadman]

I took mine to my local speed shop........said "call me when its done!":)

i'm thinking this is the best option. some years ago my cousin tried to mod his gas tank. he had drained it, rinsed it out with water, and let it sit for 3 days.
when he took the torch to it at his dad's dealership, apparently there were still flammable vapors in it. it went boom and blew him 30 feet across the garage.
fortunately for him, he was more scared than injured.
he doesn't do any gas tank modding anymore.

P.S.-although, Doric, if you're just gonna drill and there is no flame involved, you might be ok. i'd be tempted to fill the tank with water beforehand, though. i guess all it takes is a spark.

[Doric]

i'm thinking this is the best option. some years ago my cousin tried to mod his gas tank. he had drained it, rinsed it out with water, and let it sit for 3 days.
when he took the torch to it at his dad's dealership, apparently there were still flammable vapors in it. it went boom and blew him 30 feet across the garage.
fortunately for him, he was more scared than injured.
he doesn't do any gas tank modding anymore.
I don't need to be hearing stories like this. :sneaky:

Are there deals to be had on the sumped tanks...?

[shizon]

Same, took it to someone else to have the tank sumped. Just told him what I wanted done and he did the rest.

[dunncsu]

Fill the tank with water, with it still full drill it out.

[Doric]

Same, took it to someone else to have the tank sumped. Just told him what I wanted done and he did the rest.
Had both of his eyebrows still when you went to pick it up, yeah?

[Scyry]

I think we need a Doric Column on Doric tapping his tank...

The filled with water idea sounds good to me, except for water squirting out and hitting an electric drill.

[elpuerco]

why not do a surge tank?

http://lgmotorsports.com/gallery/albums/userpics/1 0001/DSC00268.JPG

[Steel Chicken]

Ill do it, im not scared.

[elpuerco]

I think we need a Doric Column on Doric tapping his tank...

The filled with water idea sounds good to me, except for water squirting out and hitting an electric drill.

that's ok because the ensuing sparks will set the remaining gas fumes ablaze and you'll be killed instantly by electric shock/fire.

[dunncsu]

I think we need a Doric Column on Doric tapping his tank...

The filled with water idea sounds good to me, except for water squirting out and hitting an electric drill.

pneumatic drill

[Steel Chicken]

old timey hand crank drill? RAWR

[dunncsu]

old timey hand crank drill? RAWR

LOL that could take a while

[mistermike]

But srlsy folks. Detergent, rinse, repeat, air dry. Good to go. Make sure you buy steel, not aluminum bulkhead fitting(s) if you're going to weld them in. I think Fraser used pressure seal fittings, so I'd probably just copy him if his parts are working out OK still.

[Doric]

Detergent like dish soap, or do I need some super-secret uber gas-eradicating Scrubbing Bubbles?

[Perdieu]

pulled tank
drained the race gas and put in it in the the lawn mower :D
grabbed the water hose and flushed the crap out of the tank (find some weeds you want to kill and do it over that area ;)
grabbed a beer
flushed the tank some more
grabbed another beer
drained the tank
grabbed the drill and a uni-bit
drilled the top two holes (vent and return -8) (used grease on the bit)
grabbed a beer
drilled the bottom hole (feed -12) (used grease on the bit)
blew it all out with air
flushed with water
flushed with water again
welded on two steel -8 fittings on the top
welded on a steel -12 fitting
capped the -12 fitting and filled with water
looked for leaks while drinking a beer

you won't need the top so you can just skip all but the beer drinking parts :D

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/attachment.php?attach mentid=104239&stc=1&d=1239317027

http://www.ls1gto.com/forums/attachment.php?attach mentid=104238&stc=1&d=1239317027

[mistermike]

A 4 beer job. Who knew?

[Swampgoat]

I like Perdieu's way. The beer prevents explosions, or at least keeps you loose for that aforementioned 30 foot air-freighting across the shop.

[Napalm]

Sumped tank does sound really awesome, but I don't know that I can pull $700 out of my ass.

Well lets just say you might have to work your ass for it. :wall:

i'm thinking this is the best option. some years ago my cousin tried to mod his gas tank. he had drained it, rinsed it out with water, and let it sit for 3 days.
when he took the torch to it at his dad's dealership, apparently there were still flammable vapors in it. it went boom and blew him 30 feet across the garage.
fortunately for him, he was more scared than injured.
he doesn't do any gas tank modding anymore.

P.S.-although, Doric, if you're just gonna drill and there is no flame involved, you might be ok. i'd be tempted to fill the tank with water beforehand, though. i guess all it takes is a spark.

I doubt it was gasoline fumes that caused the BOOM. Not after a water rinse and a 3 day sit.

Fill the tank with water, with it still full drill it out.

This is a great idea. Simle and you don't have to wash it 9 times with soap. Water will knock down flameable vapors in the tank and around the bit.

Also like someone said before, oil or grease the bit. I prefer cutting oil.

A 4 beer job. Who knew?

Hell the whole fuel mod is prolly a case of beer job.

[Napalm]

Oh and that's a good question are you welding in the fittings or compression fittings.

Personally I would use compression fittings unless you happen to own a welder. If you decide to weld, after drilling with water in the tank. Drain, wash with soap (dish or laundry) rinse and dry. Then weld.

[firefly9r68]

air drill and a STEP drill on slow speed and you will be good!

[TrakDay]

Doric I am going to be selling my sumped Nasty N8 full size fuel cell very soon if your interested! I want a 5 gallon cell instead...

[Doric]

Doric I am going to be selling my sumped Nasty N8 full size fuel cell very soon if your interested! I want a 5 gallon cell instead...
Make me a deal, dude. How soon is 'soon'?

[TrakDay]

Make me a deal, dude. How soon is 'soon'?

After April 25th my car comes apart, but if I have my new cell and can get it mounted before then... If you really want it I can take it out and get a new one in the car within a week or so!

[Doric]

Yeah, I'm looking to move pretty quickly. Shoot me a PM with how much you'll be looking to get out of it. I'm still a 'maybe' at this point, because I've spent mad cheddars on this fuel system already and probably didn't need to.

[mistermike]

Yeah, I'm looking to move pretty quickly. Shoot me a PM with how much you'll be looking to get out of it. I'm still a 'maybe' at this point, because I've spent mad cheddars on this fuel system already and probably didn't need to.

Don't forget to ask him if it comes with gas.

[rcsfastgto]

I just done mine a few weeks ago,really no big deal, drained gas out (all of it) let sit outside for a few hours,drilled hole with cordless drill,reinstalled everything,using stock feed line as a return line now.. works great! other ways to to it, return fuel via a fitting in the top of the sending units housing(plastic round thing that houses pump&sender)

[Doc GTO]

Those of you who have tapped your fuel tanks - what'd you do in terms of preparation before drilling? You know, so as to avoid blowing yourself up?

Make sure it's empty!
:eyetwitch:

[Doc GTO]

I don't need to be hearing stories like this. :sneaky:

Are there deals to be had on the sumped tanks...?



Holy cow . . .

Send it out to a pro shop Doric.

[Doric]

I wussed out altogether, Doc. Ordered a Lonnies Double Pumper kit. No tapping, no blowing up.

['06 LS2 in NC]

This may sound crazy, but it works. Use a piece of hose (shop-vac hose, etc.) from the fuel tank inlet to the exhaust pipe of a running car. The exhaust will not let any fumes from the tank ignite. Try at your own risk, of course, but I've welded on tanks before using this trick and have never had any problems.

[mistermike]

It works. I suck a bunch of exhaust daily, and have not spontaneously combusted in over 35 years.

[Oh4GTO]

^^^ Thats because you dont drink enough.

[6.0L rice eater]

could have just got a gun, step back and aim where you want the hole to be

[RIDE:42]

Run exaust gas from another car/bike /lawn mower into the tank and all will be good as there will be no oxygen left in the tank to alow a spark to ignite