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Time to fess up


slngsht

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When chatting w/Nathan at RMSC yesterday about a safer fuel tank for my car, he mentioned they have Seven there that had been recently rolled several times and then stuffed backwards into a tree (no the gas tank, which did have a 11" gash, did not explode). Anyone here know anything?

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When chatting w/Nathan at RMSC yesterday about a safer fuel tank for my car, he mentioned they have Seven there that had been recently rolled several times and then stuffed backwards into a tree (no the gas tank, which did have a 11" gash, did not explode). Anyone here know anything?

 

Process of elimination: wasn't me

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Nope, not me either (my Seven's still on sawhorses!).

 

But I've examined the car in question, at RMSC in Denver. it is a yellow Caterham CSR 260 from Washington State. On a rainy track day, it apparently slid off the track, caught a front tire in the turf, pitch-poled end over end a couple of times, then slid backwards into a tree. The chassis is pretty well buckled up at the rear, and the tank appears severely dented as i recall, but the car did not catch fire and the driver was not injured.

 

I understand a rear frame section is being ordered to graft on to the front one, which could use some straightening but is not smashed.

 

I'm feeling sorry for the owner, and somewhat saddened that my first glimpse of a CSR in the flesh was this one, which has seen better days. I had my camera, but forgot to snap any photos at the time.

 

EburgE, I recall that someone else on the USA7s line had a Fuelsafe fuel cell, and nothing but trouble. Also, a fuel cell ages and has to be replaced every four or five years, right? I wish that the cell didn't decrease the stock fuel capacity by a third or more, also...

 

Tom Meacham

Alaskossie

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Per Fuel Safe, their foam cell reduces capacity by 8%. But, their standard size is 7 gallons, whereas, per RMSC, the stock Caterham tank is 36 liters, or about 9 gallons. So the FS tank wld reduce capacity by abt 1/3, as noted above.

 

I seem to need to stop & refuel every 100-150 miles in my Crossflow and reducing that by 1/3 is not going to work. So I may get a larger size FS, and sacrifice some "boot" space or I may follow RMSC's suggestion and simply add the honeycomb panels Caterham sells (for about $350) which can be glued to the existing tank and make it much more resistant to puncture.

 

I must say I am heartened (stunned even) by the fact that a guy walked away from an endo in a Seven!

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This is not really relevant, but might make you feel better about regular fuel tanks.

This was a plastic "fuel cell", but without foam. It was well-engulfed in flame (from a weld spark in seat foam) and had half-melted. While the gas was certainly fueling the fire from a burned hose (there was no gas left in the tank), there was no "explosion".

 

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/squarefour/7-project/melty-fuel-cell.jpg

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EburgE, I recall that someone else on the USA7s line had a Fuelsafe fuel cell, and nothing but trouble. Also, a fuel cell ages and has to be replaced every four or five years, right? I wish that the cell didn't decrease the stock fuel capacity by a third or more, also...

 

I'm under the impression that it reduces capacity, but not by 1/3.

 

The foam content must be replaced, but not the whole unit.

 

I have heard of trouble starting/running if the valves are not open correctly, but I will take my chance. If it works, it could save a trip to the burn unit. If not, I can revert to the stock tank.

 

Thanks for the input. :cheers:

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