Plastic fuel Cells Vs. Aluminum

[bikes&bowties]

For half the price you can get a plastic fuel cell. Is there a good reason for aluminum on a daily driver. Im looking at the fuel cells on summit and the description on the plastic says something like "ideal for daily driver". Can someone shed some light on if a plastic one is okay for a daily. Thanks in advance... I will post a link for each to show you what im talking about.

Plastic
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-290108/

aluminum
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RCI-2172A/

[gchemist]

Weight savings is good for a daily driver. Most tanks are plastic now. Tanks are protected by heat and debri shields. Plastic is not corroded by salt or moister.

[S10Fan]

You could build a steel/aluminum box to hold the plastic cell. In the circle track world we used a rubber bladder inside a steel box.

[bikes&bowties]

Weight savings isnt a big thing as it will have a loaded down flatbed on also. And its not going to be some amazing show truck. I just like to save money where possible without ill side affects.. I just want to ditch the saddle tank.

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by bikes&bowties

Weight savings isnt a big thing as it will have a loaded down flatbed on also. And its not going to be some amazing show truck. I just like to save money where possible without ill side affects.. I just want to ditch the saddle tank.

In that case I'd just go with the plastic one.

[bikes&bowties]

Thanks guys... One more item to my huge wish list lol

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by bikes&bowties

Thanks guys... One more item to my huge wish list lol

I can relate to that!

[draggin86]

I went with a plastic on my c10 project.. i dont see the down side.

[xrcr]

If you have any dirt racers in your area,or swap meets that cater to race cars check them out. You can find deals on fuel cells that would do what your wanting. This is the time of year when us racers are peddling our "junk"
xrcr

[Hazieview]

Man I spent around $700 on my customized aluminum fuel cell. Is it worth it? I'd have to say hell no! I dont know why I spent all that money on it. Get the plastic one! Especially if it is not a show truck.

These guys built mine. Looks pretty much like this...
http://www.performanceonline.com/197...ILL-AGT7387-B/


Good luck!

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

Man I spent around $700 on my customized aluminum fuel cell. Is it worth it? I'd have to say hell no! I dont know why I spent all that money on it. !

Just my personal opinion, but I see it as well worth the money spent. I cringe every time I see a plastic fuel cell in a street vehicle. The aluminum tanks looks so much nicer.

[muthstryker]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Just my personal opinion, but I see it as well worth the money spent. I cringe every time I see a plastic fuel cell in a street vehicle. The aluminum tanks looks so much nicer.

X2, Exactly why im getting an aluminum one.

[draggin86]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Just my personal opinion, but I see it as well worth the money spent. I cringe every time I see a plastic fuel cell in a street vehicle. The aluminum tanks looks so much nicer.

Why 99% of all production vehicles run plastic gas tanks?

[355bullet]

anyone try stainless steel ones?

http://rickstanks.com/

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by draggin86

Why 99% of all production vehicles run plastic gas tanks?

cost maybe ?

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by nbpro

cost maybe ?

its for safety reasons. along with you can mold them to any shape you want.

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by 3r!c84

its for safety reasons. along with you can mold them to any shape you want.

I'm going to have to disagree with the safety issue. Yeah, you can mold them any shape you want, but it's also the cost in making them is why they're being used. Less labor involved. Cost of materials is cheaper. IMO. <<<Former Pinto owner.joke

[Dru]

Isnt it 99% of a vehicle is made of plastic nowdays? lol. It all boils down to cost, as nbpro said. Shoot they used to stamp out fenders with curves all over, but its a lot cheaper to manufacture plastic tanks, hence the prices of the aftermarkets. They would lose money bigtime on tooling, as much as they change designs nowdays.

The only way I would run a plastic, would be to enclose it in a metal box, or sit it in the bed, unless you have a boulevard cruiser, that never see's dirt. Have to consider that car companies mount theirs a lot better than aftermarkets, hours of testing have went in to make sure nothing rubbed or chaffed, like a strap with a rock stuck in it over time.

The metal one isnt even over $100.00 more, I don't know why someone would even fool with a plastic one.

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by nbpro

I'm going to have to disagree with the safety issue. Yeah, you can mold them any shape you want, but it's also the cost in making them is why they're being used. Less labor involved. Cost of materials is cheaper. IMO. <<<Former Pinto owner.joke

start beating a alum and a plastic fuel cell with a hammer see what cracks first. they use them because they are safer in a crash. wont crack or burst as easy as a metal one. also alum can make a spark that can ignite the fuel. unlike the plastic

[draggin86]

Originally Posted by 3r!c84

start beating a alum and a plastic fuel cell with a hammer see what cracks first. they use them because they are safer in a crash. wont crack or burst as easy as a metal one. also alum can make a spark that can ignite the fuel. unlike the plastic

I bet the Aluminum would would at the weld seam..

you guys for got the one of the biggest reason besides cost and shape.. plastic doesn't rust or corrode over time.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by draggin86

Why 99% of all production vehicles run plastic gas tanks?

Its not about what they are made of, its about what they look like. I just do not like the looks of a fuel cell.

Originally Posted by 355bullet

anyone try stainless steel ones?http://rickstanks.com/

Never owned one, but have looked at them closely. If your building a show quality truck, this is a VERY nice piece to have.

[Scottshotrods]

We build our own custom aluminum fuel tanks out of series 3000 120 wall thickness.
They start at $399.00.I know these are more money than other fuel tanks on the market.
Not to many people can tell you they make there tanks out of the same quality material
we do.If anybody is intrested p/m us or e-mail us.
justin@scottshotrods.com
jonm@scottshotrods.com

[nbpro]

Originally Posted by 3r!c84

start beating a alum and a plastic fuel cell with a hammer see what cracks first. they use them because they are safer in a crash. wont crack or burst as easy as a metal one. also alum can make a spark that can ignite the fuel. unlike the plastic

if you hit a car hard enough to rupture the fuel cell, there's a chance of fire anyways. I just don't like the way they look. they look cheap and that's why they were put in cars. yeah there was a thing back in the day with a lot of fires in cars in a lot of crashes. it was more feasable to go with the plastic design than it was to reinforce where fuel cells are mounted. it all comes down to cost. if i had a dollar for every recall did on a ford pinto, i could build one hell of a truck. and that was one of biggest reason of the changeover was the ford pinto.