WIFFLE Ball Baffles

[xcarguy]

I've been looking at/researching ideas/options for my RCI fuel cell. I'm not totally sold on using foam for my application. Tonight, as my neighbor was assisting me with a few odds and ends on the Storker, he mentioned his having heard of folks using wiffle balls as baffles. I later ran across this and am soliciting your thoughts:

 

http://shop.ctstore.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=70

 

. . . . . :cheers:

[MightyMike]

Hmmm... Guess I would be worried about how well the plastic holds up to gasoline. I just drained my gas tank tonight and plan to install my foam sometime this week.

 

The primary reason I'm adding foam is to reduce/eliminate the chances of a huge fireball should my car be rear-ended. Secondary motivation is to reduce the sloshing as my Storker flies around the twisties. Do you know if the the wiffle balls have the same effect?

[MightyMike]

Here's a good discussion over on Pirate4x4 about the merits of wiffle balls, foam, etc...

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general-4x4-discussion/227781-fuel-cell-baffles.html

[xcarguy]

Hmmm... Guess I would be worried about how well the plastic holds up to gasoline . . . The primary reason I'm adding foam is to reduce/eliminate the chances of a huge fireball should my car be rear-ended. Secondary motivation is to reduce the sloshing . . . . Do you know if the the wiffle balls have the same effect?

 

 

Here's a good discussion over on Pirate4x4 about the merits of wiffle balls, foam, etc...

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general-4x4-discussion/227781-fuel-cell-baffles.html

 

Mike,

 

I ran across that same discussion earlier tonight. The consensus seems to be that WIFFLE ball material needs to be PVC in order to prevent their breaking down when exposed to fuel. The primary reason for my wanting to use a foam (or other product) is to prevent sloshing. I have no clue as to the WIFFLE ball's level of protection if rear ended. Here’s a few more threads:

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/desert-racing/822130-best-foam-wiffle-balls-fuel-cells.html

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/desert-racing/817329-wiffle-balls-bitd-koh-approved.html

 

http://www.spudfiles.com/spudtech_archive/viewtopic.php?t=7896

 

Has your foam arrived?

[Croc]

hold on - this was discussed before. There is a fuel safe wiffle product. Let me find the thread.

[Croc]

Here is the thread. Wife balls start at post 4 in this thread:

 

http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8243&highlight=wiffle

[xcarguy]

Mike,

 

Thanks! I'll buy you a drink later today.

[Ian7]

I've been looking at/researching ideas/options for my RCI fuel cell. I'm not totally sold on using foam for my application....

 

any particular reason? other than cost perhaps? foam is item of choice in virtually every race fuel cell on the planet :-)

[Gherkin]

Here is the thread. Wife balls start at post 4 in this thread:

 

 

[xcarguy]

Here is the thread. Wife balls start at post 4 in this thread:

 

http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8243&highlight=wiffle

 

 

It's there . . . you just have to read between the lies . . . and spell check. :jester:

[xcarguy]

any particular reason? other than cost perhaps? foam is item of choice in virtually every race fuel cell on the planet :-)

 

Supposedly very easy to install and, if made of PVC (thus sayeth research) the balls won't break down and deteriorate. :rofl: Again, I’m soliciting opinion (and hopefully, someone else’s experience) regarding using the WIFFLEs. My interest is less than 24-hours old.

[xcarguy]

Evolving from WIFFLE balls to . . . . .

 

http://www.alltechmotorsports.com/

[xcarguy]

And yet another thread for consideration:

 

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/miscellaneous/1097875-alltechs-4x4-fuel-cell-baffles.html

[WestTexasS2K]

I have heard of this before but haven't tested the theory personally. I found bulk supply fairly cheap http://cdn.opentip.com/Sports-Outdoors/Gogo-Wiffle-Practice-Golf-Balls-Pieces-Wholesale-Lot-p-1039682.html?gclid=CLXDt7GLusICFc1_MgodLQcA4g . The companies website stated the plastic used holds up to fuel. They even make different sizes for the job. http://shop.ctstore.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=70

[MightyMike]

Foam arrived a few days ago. Essentially, a box full of semi-rigid foam bricks.

 

I presume the whiffle balls and plastic baffles will reduce fuel sloshing, but what will they do if the fuel tank ruptures? From what I've read, the foam will prevent the fuel from bursting into a fireball.

[WestTexasS2K]

I don't think I would trust foam or plastic balls from preventing fireball. The best way to address that is a bladdered fuel cell which is very expensive and requires occasional re-lining.

[Croc]

 

Sorry Gherkin for the confusion about "wife balls". Autocorrect strikes again. At any rate - Xcarguy's wife does grow a set and he loses his when the subject of household chores comes up on a Saturday morning! :jester:

[xcarguy]

Sorry Gherkin for the confusion about "wife balls". Autocorrect strikes again. At any rate - Xcarguy's wife does grow a set and he loses his when the subject of household chores comes up on a Saturday morning! :jester:

 

I don't feel so bad about dinner now . . . . I should have ordered a bigger steak! Hey, be thankful spell choke didn't correct to 'wipe', 'whip', 'sniff', 'whisker', 'whisper' or 'wiggle'; this conversation may have run in a whole different direction. :smilielol5:

 

You mean there's suppose to be a discussion about chores prior to? :svengo:

 

Did I just hijack my own thread? . . . . . :cheers:

Edited December 10, 2014 by xcarguy

[Kitcat]

I ended up buying Croc's suggested aluminum pellets last year in my 21 gallon fuel tank/bladder. Not cheap tho (esp when you have a 21 gallon tank). I went thru 3 fuel pumps in a coupla hundred miles w/10 year old foam.

[xcarguy]

I ended up buying Croc's suggested aluminum pellets last year in my 21 gallon fuel tank/bladder. Not cheap tho (esp when you have a 21 gallon tank). I went thru 3 fuel pumps in a coupla hundred miles w/10 year old foam.

 

I looked into the pellets, but the price was the deal killer.