Gas tank seam, how close is the weld to the edge?, ...yes, I know this is a bad idea Options

[tomeric914]

Yes, I know this is a bad idea, let's get that out of the way.

Looking for a place to mount the clutch reservoir and the seam on the gas tank sure would make a good mounting spot. It appears that the seam weld is closer to the tank itself, but that position could vary depending on how good or bad of a day the operator was having.

Two options using the seam:

1. Drill the seam as far away from the tank as possible using the smallest reasonable fastener diameter that would reliably hold the reservoir in place and survive vibrations, bumps, etc. Literally a 5 minute job. Potential for a fuel leak down the road if I mess up.

2. Design a billet clamp to pinch the seam and bolt the reservoir to the clamp. Not difficult to design. Expensive to machine a one off part. Definitely would not leak.

It could be located somewhere else, but this location is easy to get to and provides for a good route for the reservoir to master cylinder line.

I do see the mounting tab for the evap canaster that could be used if I made a bracket for it. The line routing for that location wasn't as good.

Standing seam clamps for mounting solar panels on metal roofs is another way, but those were a bit too large.

I am open to suggestions!

[mlindner]

How about just mounting to the brace on the cowl (fare right). When I move my tank to the front you can see where I mounted it to ihe front roll bar.

[tomeric914]

How about just mounting to the brace on the cowl (fare right). When I move my tank to the front you can see where I mounted it to the front roll bar.

Hmm, the stock tank bulges toward the passenger compartment and really takes up space. I don't think I can make that work. The solution is to get the GT tank! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Ninja]

Tygaboy made a nice mount for both brake and clutch reservoirs in the Ferrari thread.

Check it out for ideas.

He mounted near/on the vertical cowl support brace (center right of your last picture).

If I was going to try to mount that reservoir on the tank seam, I'd make clamps and NOT drill any holes in the tank if I could.

[Rob-O]

As mentioned above, why not mount it on the cowl brace?

My fear (like everyone else’s) would not only be that the tank leaks but that the tank leaks at the worse possible time and causes other issues.

[tomeric914]

As mentioned above, why not mount it on the cowl brace?

My fear (like everyone else’s) would not only be that the tank leaks but that the tank leaks at the worse possible time and causes other issues.

The issue is the line connection off the reservoir. It would hit the gas tank if mounted off the cowl brace. There are other reservoirs that have a bottom connection where the cowl brace would work.

I'll check out what @tygaboy did but I think what he did won't work with this reservoir.

Maybe I'll weld a couple of studs to the gas tank... JUST KIDDING! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

EDIT: @Ninja I think you mean like this? It's neat and clean but may get damaged if @cupomeat and I do another One Lap of America and have to jam all of our belongings in the car.

I appreciate everyone's input!

[Ninja]

I think that was on his LS car. I haven't gone through that thread completely.

The ones on the Ferrari car were different, smaller, very tidy.
I'm betting they had bottom exits.
I wish I was better at searching for a specific post.

The hydraulic stuff was quite a while back in that thread and his threads are HUGE!

You tagged him

I'd bet $5 that he will provide (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ninja.gif)

[tygaboy]

If it were me, I'd get a different reservoir that fits in the available space. I've welded on my fuel tanks but only when they were new. I wouldn't risk welding on one that had been used, but that's just me.
The Ferrari build used the short Tilton version of what I used in the LS car - but I mounted it on a spare cowl support that required upper and lower mounts to be welded to the chassis. Pic below.
Big surprise, but I'm thinking of doing something simpler with individual reservoirs as I think I can make it a bit more tidy.
Again, I'd go with a reservoir that makes it easy to find a spot to mount it.

[Ninja]

Here's a trick for welding on a gas tank that has been used...

Clean and dry.

Vent a running car into it, shop vac hose usually works.

Let it "fume" for a bit.

This should reduce the oxygen content inside the tank below the threshold for ignition.

[bkrantz]

How about a bracket that attaches to the brake MC mount?

[East coaster]

I ended up using the cowl brace. I had modified the brake res bracket to mount my clutch res, but it ended up interfering with the tank. You can see the mod’d brake res bracket in this pic, I didn’t have the energy to remove it even though it’s not used.

[Ninja]

Here's a thought...

Just T off the supply line from the base of the brake reservoir!

Tons of modern manuals do this anyway.

They have an extra nipple near the base of the master cylinder reservoir, so a clutch hydraulic failure won't take the brakes out.

Due to the long supply line to the master just teeing off (high up) should work fine.

They use the same fluid, heat is not an issue at that end of the systems (usually), and I can't see a critical need to keep the fluids separate.

And you can mess with people!

It's a hydraulic clutch, find the reservoir...

[tomeric914]

@tygaboy - slick as always and yes I agree that I should just have just got another reservoir.

@East coaster - that's the Ford reservoir that I was going to get. I didn't think about doing it that way. Nice!

@Ninja - yea, I thought about doing it that way, but I want this to be easily reversable if I screw it up.

I ended up making a bracket that bolts on to the evap canister mount on the tank. It's got an anti-rotation flange on it which should keep it all in place. Pics later!

Thanks again for everyone's input!

[Cupomeat]

I am pretty sure @Tomeric914 has his answer, and a solid path, but would there not be room BEHIND (Toward the back of the car) the current Brake MC? the pic suggest there is space there. my 914 is 400 miles away at the moment, so I can't take a look.

[tomeric914]

I am pretty sure @Tomeric914 has his answer, and a solid path, but would there not be room BEHIND (Toward the back of the car) the current Brake MC? the pic suggest there is space there. my 914 is 400 miles away at the moment, so I can't take a look.

There is a cavern back there BUT it isn’t very accessible. There is also the hood hinge and spring that swings in that area. I have the solution. Pictures coming soon!

[Jack Standz]

Here's a trick for welding on a gas tank that has been used...

Clean and dry.

Vent a running car into it, shop vac hose usually works.

Let it "fume" for a bit.

This should reduce the oxygen content inside the tank below the threshold for ignition.

Have also seen tanks purged with argon. Can also clean the tank and rinse well with water and then fill it completely with water.

Then have someone else weld it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif).