belly tanks- could this be used?

[gears-n-grease]

this guy has 50 of them for around $200 each about 10 miles from my house- Could they be used for a belly tanker if they were shortened? http://server30.hypermart.net/dupree/ebaypics/fueltank.JPG

here is the link- belly tanks (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2431388865&category=67 83)

[Dago Red]

Is that a 5,000 lb. bomb? If so, just last night I saw a pic of one made into a B'ville streamliner in an old issue of Hot Rod. It didn't look like the driver would be fully enclosed like he would be in a true belly tank, but it was pretty cool lookin.

[fordiac]

those are cool. would you fit in it? you have to have room for roll cage too right? i would look for one a little more "plump"

[gears-n-grease]

the description says it is 24 inches in diameter, so if I were to build one like the one below I could probably fit -

[Bruce Lancaster]

You will definitely get more respect from the neighbors if they see you moving one of those into your garage.

[BigJim394]

Is that made out of sheet metal or is it some type of casting?

[stealthcruiser]

helicopter aux. tanks were usually composite(kevlar or carbon fiber,probably the former,more cost effective).

[Kevin Lee]

I'd be finding out the name of the HAMBer that's repoping P38 belly tanks in fiberglass before trying to use that.

sodbuster has a few aluminum tanks I think. A bit small if I remember correct plus he never mentioned wanting to sell.

[Elrod]

Dude. 24 inches in diameter. In your mind, take two metal 12 inch rulers and bend them into a circle. Now, take the top ruler off. Is your ass going to fit into a 12 inch ruler bent into a semi-circle? I know mine wouldn't, and I'm 180 lbs.

That's about the size of my thigh.

[gears-n-grease]

I think a 24 inch diameter means the cross section- this dude looks far tubbier than me and he doesnt look like he is sitting on a 12 in pipe http://server30.hypermart.net/dupree/ebaypics/fueltank2.JPG

['Flyin' Dutchman']

Grimlock, here's the Kelly & Hall P38 fibreglass bellytanker...

http://photo.starblvd.net/tilly/3-4-2.jpg

[Bruce Lancaster]

Izzat Slim Pickens in that photo??

[gears-n-grease]

if your in line after him at the buffet- I bet it's slim pickins

[Smokin Joe]

Bomb casings are heavy, usually cast and meant to fragment in the explosion. Belly and wing tanks are lighter and stronger. Aside from your butt, what engine are you going to try and squeeze in there. What internal framework is going to take up part of that 24 inches? Take 2 of those and make yourself a submarine pontoon boat. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

['Flyin' Dutchman']

A buddy of mine has a belly tank laying around... He wants to build it into a lakester and has a SBC with a Potvin blower for it... That's a pretty cool combo, doesn't take too much space in height.....

[gears-n-grease]

I was thinkin of trying to run in gas (f) class- 2L- 3L or 123ci to 183ci- So the motor would not be monstorous- the guy that has the tanks says they weigh 140 lbs- Of course if weight becomes a factor I am gonna have to lose weight

[Kevin Lee]

It's circumference Elrod, circumference. How's the sedan coming?

[Elrod]

Oh shit. I'm an idiot! Hahaha!

The sedan still has no cowl, and is still just sitting. It's MarkX's sedan now, and nothing has happened with it yet. I'm looking for a coupe body. Perhaps in trade with the 4 banger motor I just pulled out of my current coupe. I've driven that little four banger 2000 miles in the last 3-4 months and it's a good little engine. No problems at all.

[rickyracer1962]

i dont see why not. i dont think it would fly around here, but over there you guys are getting away with cutting the backs off of cars. can someone photoshop that thing with chrome smoothies and triple lakes?

[Luke Jivetalker]

HA! You're killin me Ricky! I wonder where he's planning on racing that thing?
Skip

[gears-n-grease]

ricky- you drive a 1962 miniature wannabe elcamino- enuff said

btw- nobody I know has triples and we do build stuff without the rear cut off (isnt the PP Eater missing some body parts) http://ebay1.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_9ae69b2bbe7595db6b7a244eadb7de43/i-1.JPG

[rickyracer1962]

wow. what a neat truck. did the frame start off as a trailer like the one parked next to it? the motor is pretty cool. 4200 is sure alot for a rocket motor though. i like the tailgate, sort of a miniture tommy gate theme going on. thanks for showing me the light. florida rules.

what came first the el camino or the ranchero?

[gears-n-grease]

oh ricky - you got me I dont know my elcamino / ranchero history- LOSER!

[rickyracer1962]

is cali that truck would probably look a little like this.

[55olds88]

Which came first the elC or Ranchero ?? dunno but the Aussies were making utes way back http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Unkl Ian]

Might be a bitch cutting through the 1/2" Kevlar shell,but it is possible.$250 Buy It Now price seems reasonable,especially if you didn't have to pay to get it shipped. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I wonder if there is any baffling inside these?[ QUOTE ]
Dude. 24 inches in diameter. In your mind, take two metal 12 inch rulers and bend them into a circle.

[/ QUOTE ] Dude.A 24" DIAMETER circle will have a CIRCUMFERENCE around 75 inches.Take a piece of paper just over 6 feet long and roll that into a circle,I think I can squeeze my formerly 180 lb ass in there.Worm was repoping 'Glas tanks.No idea on price. Cen Pen Speedshop (http://www.cenpen.com/)

[**DONOTDELETE**]

when I drink way too much and dont want to use my finger, I hold this picture up in front of my face.

[Tman]

g&g, I too am looking at the F/Gas Lakester class. I already have the mill and an F86 tank found. That kevlar tank looks like a good idea. Shipping might be about the same price as the $250 Buy it now.


I see now that you are close, I would buy the damn thing!!!!
Be forwarned, I found out that there are LOTS of guys going for the relatively soft F/G lakester record. If I remember right the new SoCal tank is slated for that class with a Zetec mill?

Also, 1FatGMC from the RRT is building one.

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
I was thinkin of trying to run in gas (f) class- 2L- 3L or 123ci to 183ci- So the motor would not be monstorous- the guy that has the tanks says they weigh 140 lbs- Of course if weight becomes a factor I am gonna have to lose weight

[/ QUOTE ]

Weight's not necessarily you enemy in land speed racing. With a higher weight, you get better traction. It's not all about acceleration like it is in other forms of racing.

24 inches diameter is a little tight.

There are fiberglass alternatives, Like:
http://www.rodnrace.com/rnr/p-38.htm
But they sure don't beat the price.

You may also want to get a quote on how much it's gonna cost to truck that sucker to your door.

Finally, the two comments about "Slim Pickens" had me rolling with laughter. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Tman]

Remember, many guys add 100s of pounds to their cars for ballast!

[Elmo Rodge]

Flying Dutchman, good shot of the Kelly & Hall Belly Tank. I crew on that car and am building a Tank based on an F-16 tank. Wayno

[gears-n-grease]

that rodnrace set isnt really a bad deal especially considering they are made in my mom's hometown. What would you use to cut kevlar 1/2 inch thick? sawzall? cut off wheel? I just came acrossed the thing and wanted a little input- I might buy a couple and just stick with what us stupid southerners do best- building swamp vehicles-

BTW RICKY - what is so origional about a chopped and channeled pickup? I am not ragging on them or saying I have any better ideas but has it ever crossed your mind to try something diffrent? Nice truck but it is like going to a bike show and seeing a bunch of WCC wannabe's which are really a spawn of Arlen Ness' mid 90's bad ideas

[scarylarry]

Is a bomb really a belly tank? Kinda two different things really. I work for a co. that heat treats bomb casings and they are REAL heavy, and we do sections that are about 3' long. Gears, could two or three people even lift one of those?

[gears-n-grease]

the guy that has them says they are 140lbs each

['Flyin' Dutchman']

Hey Elmo! Sounds cool, building an F-16 tank... A pylon type right! Not the centerline one...
I work with F-16's daily... Those tanks look pretty good to make a lakester project out of...

I met the Kellies a few times on the lake... Bob & Judy Sights introduced me to 'em... They live close to the Kellies... Bob & Judy took me to El Mirage and Bonneville a couple times... Some of the coolest people on earth!

[Kevin Lee]

That Cali truck just looks like a sedan with the back chopped off to me. And it needs tractor tires. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[BigJim394]

If they are thick kevlar or some other type of high tech composite they (other than the cones on the ends) are probably one piece.


I think the SCTA would require an internal steel tubing frame and roll cage for crash protection, which while cutting down on the interior room, would probably mean you would have to cut the shell up to fit the frame and mounts into the thing.


Still with some ungoldly built up motorcycle engine (that would fit pretty easily in the thing) it would be fast. Putting a V8 other than a small one like a Ford V860 would be tough.

[DrJ]

The obvious, to me anyway, is;

$200 is cheap for a male mold for a FIBERGLASS COPY of that bomb.
buy it, paint it shiny, wax the fuck out of it and lay up an epoxy-glass copy right on top of it. If you want a "turret" for the rollbar, add it on in http://chavant.com/ automotive stylist clay or whatever before laying up the body.
If you use epoxy and glass cloth you hould be able to lay it up smooth enough to finish smooth with just a skim coat of body filler.
That's what Id do with it, if I was so bent, anyway....

[Elrod]

Why don't you get this and save $60.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Board=UBB3&Number=157714

[gears-n-grease]

then i gotta pay shipping- (yeah, I know cheap)

[Unkl Ian]

I think you would need Carbide tipped tools to cut Kevlar.Since the center section is basicly straight,you could use the Kevlar front and rear cones,and the center section could be Aluminum sheet rivited to a steel space frame.Go for it,and keep the tail fins.

[Tman]

Kevlar cuts with all the woodworking tools you own.

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
Kevlar cuts with all the woodworking tools you own.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep. High strength and low weight has NOTHING to do with ease of cutting. You'd be surprised how much you can do with just a hacksaw on Kevlar. The strands are strong, but the epoxy isn't.