62 replies to this topic

[Dusky]

Dusky do you have the Youtube channel D3Sshooter?

No.

My apologise, I saw the Britax replica pic and Belgium location, added 2 + 2 and came up with 7!

Hah, no problem! My YouTube name is ImDusky, I'm actually without classic car ATM. Although 1 new project is under way from the USA, it's a bit bigger than a mini 😅

[nicklouse]

 

 

 

Moving the tank under the car would be a lot more unsafe than having it where it normally sits.

 

why do you think that ?

 

Ok where you going to put the exhaust?

 

Leave the exhaust where it's at. The lowest point any kind of fuel tank could sit at is approx 20 or 30mm above the lowest point of the rear sub. If you're gonna be hitting stuff with the rear sub then you need to rethink your driving style, never mind anything else that's slightly higher than that.

 

And that is scary. How close to the exhaust?

[mab01uk]

Many race Minis have the fuel tank low down in the rear subframe, this one holds 7 Gallons:-

https://www.conceptr...-tank-7-gallon/

 

 

Edited by mab01uk, 23 July 2021 - 06:29 PM.

[skoughi]

 

 

 

 

Moving the tank under the car would be a lot more unsafe than having it where it normally sits.

 

why do you think that ?

 

Ok where you going to put the exhaust?

 

Leave the exhaust where it's at. The lowest point any kind of fuel tank could sit at is approx 20 or 30mm above the lowest point of the rear sub. If you're gonna be hitting stuff with the rear sub then you need to rethink your driving style, never mind anything else that's slightly higher than that.

 

And that is scary. How close to the exhaust?

 

Close enough for a heat shield and a recommended gap between heat shield and tank going from advice from experienced folk that's done that kinda thing.  

[gazza82]

I have been thinking about the wasted space under the rear seat, I think quite a lot of modern hatchbacks use this space for fuel tanks?

Where the space is higher off the ground and designed for a fuel tank .. unlike the Mini's relatively flat floor.

[timmy850]

Sealing off the boot area from the cabin can be done easily enough with some panel making and welding. Having it act as a proper firewall would be an improvement. An inertia switch to trip the fuel pump and ignition circuits in the event of an accident could help reduce the fire risk.

If you’ve got the larger single tank then potentially you could get a bit more useable boot space with a smaller single tank or even dual tanks. I find the edges past the boot opening aren’t that useful really anyway

I don’t really see how you can make enough room under the boot floor to make a decent sized tank fit that’d be safer than the current tank.

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[mab01uk]

Modern cars use plastic moulded fuel tanks which can be designed to make use of every bit of available space no matter what its shape! The Mini was designed in the 1950's when plastic fuel tanks for cars were way in the future. Early prototype sketches by Alec Issigonis show the Minis petrol tank on the front bulkhead below the windscreen....

 

Edited by mab01uk, 24 July 2021 - 12:37 PM.

[mab01uk]

Modern R53 MINI fuel tank location with exhaust passing through a heat shield :-

 

 

Edited by mab01uk, 24 July 2021 - 12:51 PM.

[smurfomatic]

Am I missing something, isn't this exactly where the Mini Van / Pickup petrol tank is - fitted under the body, inside the rear subframe, with the exhaust passing underneath? 

 

This is where the tank is on my Mini Marcos, and there's no issues with hitting speed bumps. Also, if the fuel leaks it's going outside the car and not into the boot...

[mab01uk]

Am I missing something, isn't this exactly where the Mini Van / Pickup petrol tank is - fitted under the body, inside the rear subframe, with the exhaust passing underneath? 

 

This is where the tank is on my Mini Marcos, and there's no issues with hitting speed bumps. Also, if the fuel leaks it's going outside the car and not into the boot...

 

Out of interest the very early Mini Countryman/ Traveller's had an internal fuel tank inside the load space like the saloon but later adopted the safer Mini Van / Pickup petrol tank position underneath the rear floor.

 

September 1960

"The rear floor pressing of the early estates resembled that of an extended saloon, with the battery being retained in its traditional Mini location in the boot.  One of the most interesting things about the very early Traveller and Countryman cars was the internal fuel tank.  The tank was positioned on the left hand side in the rear of the car and was trimmed to match the boot.  These so-called internal tank cars are easily recognisable by the filler cap being just underneath the rear window on the left hand side of the car.  Production of the internal tank cars was so limited that these have become the most sought after of all Mini estates."

http://www.minitrave...&id=34&Itemid=2

 

October 1961 From internal to external tank.
"12 months after the estate launch there was a major change to the model, as it adopted the van-style fuel tank located underneath the car.  From here on we refer to "external tank" cars.  Consequently the filler cap moved to the moved to the lower right hand side of the car and the boot floor pressing was revised.  The battery was moved from the boot to underneath the rear seat, on the right hand side."

http://www.minitrave...&id=37&Itemid=2

Edited by mab01uk, 24 July 2021 - 01:44 PM.

[mab01uk]

Austin Mini and its accident safety....includes the fuel tank filler neck.....@ 3.15 in video below:-

 

 

 

[nicklouse]

Am I missing something, isn't this exactly where the Mini Van / Pickup petrol tank is - fitted under the body, inside the rear subframe, with the exhaust passing underneath? 

 

This is where the tank is on my Mini Marcos, and there's no issues with hitting speed bumps. Also, if the fuel leaks it's going outside the car and not into the boot...

Nope it is after the subframe.and the exhaust tail pipe is along side it.

[smurfomatic]

 

Am I missing something, isn't this exactly where the Mini Van / Pickup petrol tank is - fitted under the body, inside the rear subframe, with the exhaust passing underneath? 

 

This is where the tank is on my Mini Marcos, and there's no issues with hitting speed bumps. Also, if the fuel leaks it's going outside the car and not into the boot...

Nope it is after the subframe.and the exhaust tail pipe is along side it.

 

 

Forgot it was outside the subframe, shows how much attention I pay when I'm laying underneath the car!

 

Still, it's in a similar position to the original point raised, and it never seems to have caused any problems regards safety.

[Ethel]

Midas kitcars fit a van tank between the rear wheels, but there's no subframe in the way. You'll still want to get fuel in to it, which is going to effect the practicality of any gained storage space.

 

Has anyone actually come off worse from the standard tank location in a bump? There's plenty more probable things to worry about if you crashed in one   .

[mab01uk]

Interestingly the BMC Works Rally Minis always turned the battery around so the terminals were further away from the RH petrol tank for safety reasons.....