Fuel cell needs surge tank- yes/no?

[MS-75]

Greetings guys. I have a question regarding the need, or otherwise, of running an external surge tank with a plastic fuel cell.

The detail is as follows-

I'm replacing the stock tank in my 72 Crown with a 12gallon foam filled fuel cell. The cell has the pickups at the rear of the tank in a small sump. The tank is now mounted in the boot of the car with the pumps (2 x 044) under car, slightly below the level of the tank.

I'm undecided however about running an external surge tank. Under launching, there is no chance the pumps will starve as the pick-up is at the bottom rear of the tank. However, there is a small possibility that the pumps could starve under heavy braking/chute deployment. I have seen on a few drag cars (a GTR, the 'PANNIC' VL and a gun grey 1200 13BT Datto ute) where there are no surge tanks used, and they all had a very similar fuel cell to mine.

What do you guys think?

Sean

[Norbie]

I reckon a surge tank would be redundant in your case. Worst case scenario, the engine stalls under heavy braking - but that's not going to cause permanent engine damage is it, because you're off the throttle. The foam inside the fuel cell will probably reduce surge a lot anyway.

[takai]

Yeah, i agree with Norbie mainly. The biggest issue i can see is if you lose power steering, although i dont think your FZ has PS anyway. Boosted brakes could be an issue as well, but with the chute that would normally become irrelevant.

[MS-75]

I reckon a surge tank would be redundant in your case. Worst case scenario, the engine stalls under heavy braking - but that's not going to cause permanent engine damage is it, because you're off the throttle. The foam inside the fuel cell will probably reduce surge a lot anyway.

Yeah Norbie-that's pretty-much my thinking at the moment.

Come to think of it, the time when the car will experience the most violent braking/chute deployment force will be just as I cross the traps at 220+km/hr for a few seconds only. That means I'll be engine braking on fuel decel cut-off anyway. By the time I get back on the gas the car is down to 60km/hr or so and under 2000rpm.

Sorted. No surge tank it is then.