32 replies to this topic

[ls2lxhatch]

Could someone please measure how wide the chamfers are on a Brown Davis drop tank?

[its Paul]

I made mine 25mm in and 25mm down giving it a 35mm width, this was copied from a Brown & Davis tank (all other dimensions differ).
Without hijacking your thread do you or anyone else know where I and get the alloy fitting for the sender??

[its Paul]

Thanks Chris, but I don�t think they would supply one, they would want to sell me a complete tank.
Guess I could tell them I need to replace a damaged one.

[its Paul]

lol

Mate that would be great, if you get a chance.
do the senders fit it nice and tight??

Sorry for the hijack ls2lxhatch.
Cheers Paul.

[its Paul]

ls2lxhatch, are you making a tank??

[ls2lxhatch]

Thanks for the measurements, I am designing a tank to be built by a licenced fabricator. I can not decide whether to have the chamfered joins or straight butt joins.

You can get a VDO fuel sender modified to suit the Torana fuel gauge.

Browns Radiators in Perth will be able to sell you a modified VDO fuel sender. They may also be able to sell you the alloy fitting for the Torana sender.

Edited by ls2lxhatch, 18 July 2009 - 10:55 AM.

[its Paul]

The reason for the 45deg edge is to stop the buckle and wave that you can get when welding, plus it looks good
thanks for the information.

[ls2lxhatch]

The reason for the 45deg edge is to stop the buckle and wave that you can get when welding, plus it looks good
thanks for the information.

Correct, Brown Davis use 2 mm sheet which requires the 45 degree join for strength and to eliminate distortion. If you use 3 mm sheet then the tank is heavier but the 45 degree join is not required. The 45 deg join is more complicated to design, cut and bend.

I am undecided which type of join I prefer in terms of appearance so I was planning to design two tanks and make prototypes of both.

There are pictures of both styles in this Torviki article.

[its Paul]

Correct, Brown Davis use 2 mm sheet which requires the 45 degree join for strength and to eliminate distortion. If you use 3 mm sheet then the tank is heavier but the 45 degree join is not required. The 45 deg join is more complicated to design, cut and bend.

Thats the article I used to make mine.
I'm making mine out of 3mm but with the 45degree, and you are correct it is a bit of a headf%$k to work out, I made a Galvanized one first to make sure the angles are right, all I need now is the time to finish it

Edited by lx8vd77, 18 July 2009 - 08:25 PM.

[hatchssv8]

Gents,

I have a CAD model file and accurate 1:1 scale drawings of the necessary pieces required to fabricate a drop tank. It is in the 45deg chamfer style.

The drawings have both cut lines and fold lines. It also includes all the small cuts required to achieve the chamfers in the corners.

I have these ready for when I want to make a drop tank for my car. Maybe we can get together and save you having to design the same thing. Open for discussion.

Cheers, Max

[its Paul]

I wouldn�t mind a copy of that cad file, I could import it into my plasma programme and cut a tank out in minutes.
If you are offering to pass it on, I'll put my hand up.

[ls2lxhatch]

Max, thanks for the offer.

The reason I am designing a tank is that I want to incorporate the EFI pumps, surge tank and comply with the departure angle rule. The Brown Davis design does not comply with the departure angle rule and therefore can not be engineered in WA under the NCOP.

I used Google Sketchup to design the tank. I have made several prototype tanks from MDF and settled on the final design. I am waiting for the exhaust guy to check clearances before proceeding further.

Pictures here.

[76lxhatch]

ls2lxhatch, the very last photo on that page shows a tank that doesn't go very far forward - is that for exhaust clearance? Seems like there could be some extra capacity available by utilising that space (since you only have 65 litres), where does your final design finish up?

My tank has been custom made (I bought it almost completed) and it goes almost to the diff. This does create some issues with exhaust clearance but I think it would only require angling the sides in a bit further to make a big difference and still have plenty of capacity.

[ls2lxhatch]

The space between the diff and the tank is for the exhaust and the Bosch 044 pump which mounts on the front. Each 10 mm further forward gives another 1.2 litres, the Google Sketchup volume calculator is very handy for this job. Once the exhaust has been completed I may be able to move forward 20-40 mm. The tank could also be made deeper but I did not like the look of the 210 mm deep version and it makes using a jack difficult.

The VE Commodore fuel tank holds 73 litres with a combined L/100 of 14.3, I figure 65 litres in a lighter car should give a usable range of around 450 km.

[LX 0076]

Gents,

I have a CAD model file and accurate 1:1 scale drawings of the necessary pieces required to fabricate a drop tank. It is in the 45deg chamfer style.

The drawings have both cut lines and fold lines. It also includes all the small cuts required to achieve the chamfers in the corners.

I have these ready for when I want to make a drop tank for my car. Maybe we can get together and save you having to design the same thing. Open for discussion.

Cheers, Max

I Would also be interested in this if you could send it to [email protected]
Many thanks Jayson

[hatchssv8]

I should have mentioned earlier.............(the earlier post reminded me)

I have made mods to the 120 litre version to accomodate the rear angle requirement, the asthetics (i dont particularly like the large Fish tank look) and the capacity.

The tank is approx 90 litres capacity, 180mm in height and is suitable for internal integrated pump/surge for EFI set up.

[hatchssv8]

I am hoping for a "i'll scratch your back, if you scratch mine' scenario.

Any thoughts

[its Paul]

mate, im not touching your back, people will talk