FRP fuel tank?
- Thread starter BRANDO6X
- Start date
Just looked over your build thread, you may be surprised what you can get away with even with a good amount of rocker. I'm running a cold fusion tank in a rockered superjet with a b pipe limited but I have no experience with the c4 pipe. Just go bpipe, run a stock tank and make sure you test fit the tank before you finish the rocker.
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Ya I should drop the tank in first and see how bad it is, I need to get my build thread up to where I am now so you can see the rocker and such, I am way ahead of the thread at the moment, rocker isn't about to change (already glassed for the most part) and the c4 pipe is in my hands already.
Another reason why I am thinking about making the tank is that I am making a custom dual front exit water box, that and the pole breathing has me concerned about layout, I thought maybe it would be advantageous to make the tank in a way that could clean up the nose area for all my exhaust shenanigans
Thanks for responses I am way too indecisive to keep moving
Another reason why I am thinking about making the tank is that I am making a custom dual front exit water box, that and the pole breathing has me concerned about layout, I thought maybe it would be advantageous to make the tank in a way that could clean up the nose area for all my exhaust shenanigans
Thanks for responses I am way too indecisive to keep moving
Vumad
Super Hero, with a cape!
- Location
- St. Pete, FL
I did past research on this. Resins do not hold up to ethanol. However, you can make a composite shell and run a bladder. You should be able to do a composite tank if you use ethanol free fuel. I believe it was vinyl ester. I think youd be betterroff building it out of aluminum, using a bladder or sticking with an existing product.
Thanks for the response Vumad,
I think running a bladder would work, but I can't seem to find a good bladder in the 3-5 gal range that work with my fabrication plan.
I plan on sticking with ethanol free fuel for sure, and I am using epoxy for the resin, it would seem that epoxy is quite resistant to ethanol free fuel but not fuel "proof" so that is why I am looking into Caswell tank sealant. It would seem that it should seal and protect a glass and/or carbon tank.
I cannot find an existing tank that will fit how I would like and that has enough capacity, but I do think a custom aluminum tank would work very well. I however would prefer not to purchase the material and welding time. My TIG skills are not close to good enough for such a task so I would have to pay someone.
I already have carbon, glass, epoxy and a billet fuel pickup I would love to see in a custom carbon tank. I had planed on using the lost foam technique to make the tank so that I can do away with a mold.
I think running a bladder would work, but I can't seem to find a good bladder in the 3-5 gal range that work with my fabrication plan.
I plan on sticking with ethanol free fuel for sure, and I am using epoxy for the resin, it would seem that epoxy is quite resistant to ethanol free fuel but not fuel "proof" so that is why I am looking into Caswell tank sealant. It would seem that it should seal and protect a glass and/or carbon tank.
I cannot find an existing tank that will fit how I would like and that has enough capacity, but I do think a custom aluminum tank would work very well. I however would prefer not to purchase the material and welding time. My TIG skills are not close to good enough for such a task so I would have to pay someone.
I already have carbon, glass, epoxy and a billet fuel pickup I would love to see in a custom carbon tank. I had planed on using the lost foam technique to make the tank so that I can do away with a mold.
Vumad
Super Hero, with a cape!
- Location
- St. Pete, FL
I'm pretty confident Pat at fiberglass coatings (saint pete, FL) said epoxy would not work. It would suck to have that start to break down and maybe re solidify in your carbs or other components. I'm pretty confident he said to use vinyl ester. Maybe you can give them a call and ask.
I decided against ethanol free because of the availability. Its one thing to run it for maintenance purposes, but it's another when you absolutely cant run it because your tank would dissolve. Sometime things don't go to plan. I might expect to use 15-20 gallons in a weekend and only get to use 5, or expect to use 5 and end up using 20. It's nice to be able to stop at any gas station and get what you need. I ended up with a 550 tank for a while. It wasn't optimal, but it was reliable.
I decided against ethanol free because of the availability. Its one thing to run it for maintenance purposes, but it's another when you absolutely cant run it because your tank would dissolve. Sometime things don't go to plan. I might expect to use 15-20 gallons in a weekend and only get to use 5, or expect to use 5 and end up using 20. It's nice to be able to stop at any gas station and get what you need. I ended up with a 550 tank for a while. It wasn't optimal, but it was reliable.
- Location
- Valley Springs, CA
I've got a waterdawg tank sitting on the parts shelf. I should test it and see if it's still sealed, pretty sure it was built in 09. The ski it was in has tons of hours on it
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Not really, it is made to match the bottom of the WDK hull, it is somewhat similar in shape to a stock tank but holds like 6 gallons.
- Location
- Valley Springs, CA
Also in the rev configuration it will not allow the use of a limited chamber. From later investigation it was intended for mod chamber, wdk unicorn pipe
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- Location
- prescott arizona
I am working on a composite tank project for my Stryker, I want it to be low profile and fit perfectly in the space between the motor, pfp, and waterbox...I think the kart tanks look terrible and out of place in a nice jetski. My plan is to build it in 2 halves using vynil ester resin and fiberglass with a visual layer of carbon, imbed alum blocks to drill and tap afterwards where the fuel full and pickups will go. I found a fuel tank coating product called kreem to use on the 2 halves before they get bonded together
Awesome sounding project. I agree, I think that fuel tanks could look way better and use space more effectively.
I was thinking about using a lost foam method to make the tank. Basically shape the tank how I want it in pink Styrofoam or any foam that can melted with a solvent and not epoxy. And then layup my carbon and/or glass over the foam, let it cure then melt it out. Not set of this method but I feel like it could work pretty well.
The Al blocks are a great idea, I may have to do something like that as well.
Is there a reason you would use vinyl ester and not epoxy? I feel like if you are going to coat the inside with a fuel proof layer, epoxy should be fine, and it is easier to work with.
I would stay away from kreem and use either caswell http://www.caswellplating.com/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer.html or use steel flex from fasco unlimited.
I called us composites and they mentioned steel flex would work to guard epoxy from fuel.
I was thinking about using a lost foam method to make the tank. Basically shape the tank how I want it in pink Styrofoam or any foam that can melted with a solvent and not epoxy. And then layup my carbon and/or glass over the foam, let it cure then melt it out. Not set of this method but I feel like it could work pretty well.
The Al blocks are a great idea, I may have to do something like that as well.
Is there a reason you would use vinyl ester and not epoxy? I feel like if you are going to coat the inside with a fuel proof layer, epoxy should be fine, and it is easier to work with.
I would stay away from kreem and use either caswell http://www.caswellplating.com/epoxy-gas-tank-sealer.html or use steel flex from fasco unlimited.
I called us composites and they mentioned steel flex would work to guard epoxy from fuel.
- Location
- prescott arizona
Yeah the sacrificial mold would definatly work for this project, I chose a split mold because I wanted a good visual surface and to be able to make more if the project was a success...I went with the vynil ester because of its fuel resistant feature incase the coating failed, it's also easier to work with than epoxy
I like the idea of being able to reproduce more after you prove it out. That is for sure a selling point for using a mold... and it would likely just be better all around. I just wanted to do the lost foam so it would be fast and less labor intensive.
I am not sure that vinyl ester is much more resistant than many epoxies, but I am surprised to hear it is better to work with than epoxy. I have not worked with it before so I don't know for sure, but I have read it is much more sensitive to climate and mix ratio changes, and can be pretty harmful if you get some fumes in you. Is it just way easier to get fiber to wet out?
I am not sure that vinyl ester is much more resistant than many epoxies, but I am surprised to hear it is better to work with than epoxy. I have not worked with it before so I don't know for sure, but I have read it is much more sensitive to climate and mix ratio changes, and can be pretty harmful if you get some fumes in you. Is it just way easier to get fiber to wet out?