Im installing a fuel cell in my TII project.

I found the cell I want, And the filler neck adapter.

I could run a hose from the filler door to this neck adapter on the cell and it should work fine, but I would have to cut a hole in the frame rail behind the axle, left of the tire well. The frame measures about 4-4.5 inch tall, and I need at least a 2in cut.

Should I attach some bracing to the frame or is this a low stress point.

 

That's probably one of the strongest parts of the car. I doubt you'll need bracing.

 

cool, then the fuel cell is a go.

 

if you cut a round hole on each side, it's self-bracing. If you cut a chunk out, like a notch, it'll weaken that area.

Remember, the Ford Expedition has holes through the frame rails for the rear driveshafts to pass through; and most aircraft frames have holes through whatever they can have holes through in order to save weight. If you played with legos as a kid, you might remember the Technics stuff having holes through the long, thin pieces that made up the main beams. In the real world this is a way to save weight while maintaining rigidity. Think of the hole as a round arch, then it makes sense.

 

What brand fuel cell are you using?

 

Like the Volkswagen New Beetle commercials

 

heres the cell im gonna get

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...t=SUM%2D290108

I plan on painting it red or blue for the race look.

If im getting a fuel cell, it should at least be a color so people can see its a fuel cell.

 

Paint wont stick to it I dont think. Its a very slick polyethelyene.

 

Im going to try that new KRYLON Fusion paint.

Its designed to paint plastics.

 

certain plastics accept paint; some don't. This one likely won't.

 

I'm tellin you , it feels real slippery, I dont think it'll stick. If yu want the look, get or make a can like a real race car has and paint that instead.

 

if it doesnt stick then I wont paint it.

I just thought it would look good with a blue fuel cell under the back.