WTB: FIA/FT-3 Fuel Cell

[sf4018]

Hi all,

My name is Simon, I'm a first time poster and a bit of a noob with car building, although I'm learning fast! I ordered a 420R SV a couple of years ago, started building in April this year and about finished up last month, although I still have some Winter projects to do. It's basically a "race" spec car, with full roll cage, fire extinguisher, external electrical cut-off, race suspension, etc. Here's a vid of the first track day shakedown...

 

 

Next May I'm planning on racing it in the HSR series at Barber. I have all the required safeties for the series except for an FIA/FT-3 Fuel Cell.

Does anyone have experience or suggestions with fuel cells that might help point me in the right direction?

Is the SV tank bigger than a regular?

 

Thanks!

Simon

[Croc]

Welcome Simon!

 

Its good to have another track enthusiast around this forum. Loved the Barber video.

 

YEs the SV tank is bigger than the S3 12 vs 9 gallons

 

For fuel cell, the standard Caterham solution for all cars is an ATL type, done as a custom order. No difference in between S3 or SV as I understand it. That makes sense as you dont want to weigh down your car for a race. The part reference is here

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/tanks/3952-fuel-bag-tank-55ltr-rhd.html?search_query=fuel+cell&results=148

 

Not cheap as you just discovered from the link and I think the FIA compliant version has an expiry date built into it. At least my FIA ATL tank in the Mustang has a dated life before refresh/replacement.

 

I am aware of a few owners that went to ATL directly to order their tanks. Yellowss7 has one in his orange SV car that he could take photos for you (sorry Tom for volunteering!).

 

Cheers

mike

[yellowss7]

Unfortunately Orange is not home at the moment, Yellow is alone in the garage. Tom

[sf4018]

Welcome Simon!

 

Its good to have another track enthusiast around this forum. Loved the Barber video.

 

YEs the SV tank is bigger than the S3 12 vs 9 gallons

 

For fuel cell, the standard Caterham solution for all cars is an ATL type, done as a custom order. No difference in between S3 or SV as I understand it. That makes sense as you dont want to weigh down your car for a race. The part reference is here

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/tanks/3952-fuel-bag-tank-55ltr-rhd.html?search_query=fuel+cell&results=148

 

Not cheap as you just discovered from the link and I think the FIA compliant version has an expiry date built into it. At least my FIA ATL tank in the Mustang has a dated life before refresh/replacement.

 

I am aware of a few owners that went to ATL directly to order their tanks. Yellowss7 has one in his orange SV car that he could take photos for you (sorry Tom for volunteering!).

 

Cheers

mike

 

Thanks for the info Mike! So it looks like if I buy through Caterham Parts it will be about $4k but I know (or assume) it will have the right stuff. If I can buy from ATL direct it'll be about $2.5k. I called ATL in NJ and they were asking for a serial number since there are so many variations? Does anyone have an ATL tank for a 420R SV or similar that they could share their tank serial number?

[FE07]

Simon,

When my cell went bad I also contacted ATL in NJ and when they found out it was for a Caterham and was the original cell the car came with- they told me I'd have to deal directly with Caterham.

 

So........... maybe if they DON'T know that- they'll sell you one and you can use the $1,500 on something else for the car!! I had mine made by Fuel Safe but not sure I'd use them again. Ideally you'd want to have an old cell to send so they can match it.

 

Jim A

[sf4018]

Simon,

When my cell went bad I also contacted ATL in NJ and when they found out it was for a Caterham and was the original cell the car came with- they told me I'd have to deal directly with Caterham.

 

So........... maybe if they DON'T know that- they'll sell you one and you can use the $1,500 on something else for the car!! I had mine made by Fuel Safe but not sure I'd use them again. Ideally you'd want to have an old cell to send so they can match it.

 

Jim A

 

Thanks Jim. I think you may be right, ATL wasn't very helpful trying to figure out what options were required, so the best way to go may be to buy the first one through Caterham (it only last 5 years after all), keep the s/n then get replacements directly.

[fotsyr]

I have an S3 cell for sale. Requires new insert. You can contact me at Chris@sevenselans.com

[Anker]

I assume you are the Chris that used to own Sevens & Elans in Massachusetts and then retired to sunny Florida.

 

I bought the 1987 Caterham that you built and sold, that then was resold to Bill Seymour. Bill was very sad to see it go, but he had moved on to racing in a Spec Ford and put autocrossing on the shelf. I am a good friend of Bill's and am in the process of getting the car back to prime condition.

 

In your customer gallery you mention my car, which is the one that Road & Track borrowed for their test. Bill was generous enough to give me his copy of the issue that the test was published in.

 

I am in Islamorada all of February and will be passing through Saint Augustine on March 1st. Unfortunately that is a Sunday, otherwise I would have likes to stop by and say hello!

[sf4018]

Has anyone swapped a gas tank out before? Anything I need to get toolwise that's special before I get the tank?

[coffee break]

Do you have a cutting torch?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:smilielol5: