SN95 gas tank

[michaelmosty]

Looking for an original SN95 gas tank.
Let me know if you have a lead on one.
Thanks,

[mach1]

Did the 4.6's have a return-less system? You may need a 94-95 specifically, not sure.

[Tilton]

LMR says 84-97 was the same tank. Only $112 for a new one.

https://lmr.com/item/LRS-9002B/1984-97-Mustang-Fuel-Tank-With-Efi

[Sook]

I've heard that the baffles in aftermarket tanks aren't as good for fuel pickup. No experience with it personally.

- Josh

[RichardP]

I've heard that the baffles in aftermarket tanks aren't as good for fuel pickup. No experience with it personally.

- Josh

I bought one of the aftermarket ones and it sucks on track. I have to keep it at least half full not to starve. I gave up and cut a stock one apart to reattach the baffle. It's got its own issues. I'd love a original tank with the baffles still intact also...


Richard P.

[ShadowBolt]

I purchased a tank for the 55 (returnless system 2002) on Amazon and it will work fine as long as we keep It above 3/8ths of a tank.

JJ

[mach1]

I purchased a tank for the 55 (returnless system 2002) on Amazon and it will work fine as long as we keep It above 3/8ths of a tank.

JJ

Does your fuel pump sit in a largeish cylinder thing? If so, I think that helps keep it from starving, the tank that Michael has I ran for 1 race and pulled it to put in a early SN tank, ford started spot welding the baffle instead of brazing it so it should hold up better (SN vs Fox). The aftermarket tanks are a joke, it's basically a bowl with a hole drilled in the side, the OE tank has a proper baffle setup.

[ShadowBolt]

On the tank I got the pump sits inside a round baffle just like the stocker. The part around the pump is what broke on my stock tank and it was just rolling around by the wires.


JJ

[AI#97]

Does your fuel pump sit in a largeish cylinder thing? If so, I think that helps keep it from starving, the tank that Michael has I ran for 1 race and pulled it to put in a early SN tank, ford started spot welding the baffle instead of brazing it so it should hold up better (SN vs Fox). The aftermarket tanks are a joke, it's basically a bowl with a hole drilled in the side, the OE tank has a proper baffle setup.

2003 Cobra tank is the way to go...but is VERY expensive...or was. best baffle on the planet when used with the proper fuel pump canister. used to run mine down to 1.5 gallons or less before starvation but it also had two pumps in it to suck up every last drop.

Granted, I had nearly $1k in the tank/pumps but that was 10 years ago.

[centerville]

2003 Cobra tank is the way to go...but is VERY expensive...or was. best baffle on the planet when used with the proper fuel pump canister. used to run mine down to 1.5 gallons or less before starvation but it also had two pumps in it to suck up every last drop.

Granted, I had nearly $1k in the tank/pumps but that was 10 years ago.

This. I just ran mine down to 1.75 gallons and had no starvation issues. Mine is still stock. Maybe this is a good replacement. http://www.on3performance.com/shop/on-3-performance-03-04-cobra-baffled-gas-tank/

[michaelmosty]

Al, there is nothing specifically noted in the CMC rules about running an aftermarket tank like this one in the previous post. Is this something that would be good to run in CMC?

[Al Fernandez]

Reading the CMC rules...
The 2003 Cobra is not an allowed car, which means its parts that are different than the allowed 2003 models are not allowed, unless explicitly allowed elsewhere in the rules. Replacement parts must not offer a performance improvement over the OE. No fuel tank modifications other than going full fuel cell are allowed. The sum total of those rules means that aftermarket tank and pump assembly are not legal. Not saying that it shouldn't be considered, but per todays rules I would say they are not allowed so would require a rules change.

[ShadowBolt]

Reading the CMC rules...
The 2003 Cobra is not an allowed car, which means its parts that are different than the allowed 2003 models are not allowed, unless explicitly allowed elsewhere in the rules. Replacement parts must not offer a performance improvement over the OE. No fuel tank modifications other than going full fuel cell are allowed. The sum total of those rules means that aftermarket tank and pump assembly are not legal. Not saying that it shouldn't be considered, but per todays rules I would say they are not allowed so would require a rules change.

How do you enforce this? Looks to me that this tank is exactly the same as a stock tank looking at the outside.


JJ

[Sook]

Reading the CMC rules...
The 2003 Cobra is not an allowed car, which means its parts that are different than the allowed 2003 models are not allowed, unless explicitly allowed elsewhere in the rules. Replacement parts must not offer a performance improvement over the OE. No fuel tank modifications other than going full fuel cell are allowed. The sum total of those rules means that aftermarket tank and pump assembly are not legal. Not saying that it shouldn't be considered, but per todays rules I would say they are not allowed so would require a rules change.

By this logic I take it an 03 Cobra steering rack isn't allowed either, asking for a friend.

- Josh

[mach1]

By this logic I take it an 03 Cobra steering rack isn't allowed either, asking for a friend.

- Josh
And 03 cobra control arms, and....

[Al Fernandez]

If a Cobra steering rack is the same as a GT steering rack then its fine. If a Cobra steering rack is 2 turns lock to lock and a GT rack is 3.8 then its not fine. Its not whether it came in a cobra rather whether its the same as what was in the GT.

Ah enforcement is an entirely different problem. We've never done this, but one could just go up to a car post race and start pouring fuel into it and see how much it takes. Pretty easy to tell if the car is capable of running close to empty or not. For that matter, this tank is just one solution. You could arrive at a similar place simply stuffing fuel insoluble things into the tank. Or so I've heard.

[RichardP]

If a Cobra steering rack is the same as a GT steering rack then its fine. If a Cobra steering rack is 2 turns lock to lock and a GT rack is 3.8 then its not fine. Its not whether it came in a cobra rather whether its the same as what was in the GT.


The racks are different but it would be impossible to tell visually or by turning it lock to lock. The Cobra rack has a stiffer T-bar for reduced power assist. In theory, it has a better, more performance oriented feel. This assumes, of course, that you bought a good factory rack that specifically came off of a cobra. If you bought a remanufactured rack, there is no telling what you have. I've bought the "correct" rack and found it did have the different steering ratio from the 4 cylinder model. You could buy a GT version and get a Cobra version without knowing it (way less likely).



Ah enforcement is an entirely different problem. We've never done this, but one could just go up to a car post race and start pouring fuel into it and see how much it takes. Pretty easy to tell if the car is capable of running close to empty or not. For that matter, this tank is just one solution. You could arrive at a similar place simply stuffing fuel insoluble things into the tank. Or so I've heard.


The factory tank works just fine down to empty. But most factory tanks at this point have had the baffle inside of the tank break loose. Replacement tanks are cheap but don't work much below half full. Some people, even those with still functioning factory tanks, use fuel as ballast. Your method of checking legality makes absolutely no sense.

The Cobra tank is a legal outside stamping with different baffling inside. The Cobra pump assembly uses two pumps which isn't legal. I don't see it as a legal setup for a CMC car. I also don't see it as a performance benefit over a factory fox tank. I do see it as a possible performance benefit over the crap that you can actually buy to keep your ancient fox running.


Richard P.

[michaelmosty]

So what can be done if it is impossible to buy an OEM tank or a stock equivalent tank?
I have run three different aftermarket tanks over the last 10 years and all of them start to fuel starve after using about 6 gallons. Straight out of the box with a good baffle and new pump and filter. The last few years at Hallett I have even completely warmed my car up in the pits and then topped off the tank before heading to grid because I know it might start to cough in the last lap or two of the final 30 minute race.

I am concerned during the longer race at COTA that my current tank situation would hose me during the end of the race.
I have looked everywhere and cannot find a SN95 specific fuel tank. Everything aftermarket says 87-95 or newer.

[ShadowBolt]

So what can be done if it is impossible to buy an OEM tank or a stock equivalent tank?
I have run three different aftermarket tanks over the last 10 years and all of them start to fuel starve after using about 6 gallons. Straight out of the box with a good baffle and new pump and filter. The last few years at Hallett I have even completely warmed my car up in the pits and then topped off the tank before heading to grid because I know it might start to cough in the last lap or two of the final 30 minute race.


I am concerned during the longer race at COTA that my current tank situation would hose me during the end of the race.
I have looked everywhere and cannot find a SN95 specific fuel tank. Everything aftermarket says 87-95 or newer.

https://www.amazon.com/Evan-Fischer-EVA13272039687-Mustang-Gallon-Capacity/dp/B009DJLT18/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1522890276&sr=8-6&keywords=2000+mustang+fuel+tank

[Al Fernandez]

I didn’t know the original tanks were good down to almost empty. If that’s the case then yeah enforcement is difficult at best lol.

[michaelmosty]

Update:
I got a junkyard gas tank for $35 and spent about an hour trying to get it fully cleaned out. It had some sediment and gunk in it which concerned me and I still need to slosh a few more gallons through it for it to fully be cleaned.
I started to pull my tank and did notice when I pulled the fuel pump out that the strainer had fallen off. I'm going to try putting a new strainer on for COTA and run the old tank to see if that at least improves my pickup issues. If I can get the 94/95 tank clean, I'll put it in before Hallett.

[Pranav]

Update:
I got a junkyard gas tank for $35 and spent about an hour trying to get it fully cleaned out. It had some sediment and gunk in it which concerned me and I still need to slosh a few more gallons through it for it to fully be cleaned.
I started to pull my tank and did notice when I pulled the fuel pump out that the strainer had fallen off. I'm going to try putting a new strainer on for COTA and run the old tank to see if that at least improves my pickup issues. If I can get the 94/95 tank clean, I'll put it in before Hallett.

I would dump a heavy dose of techron AND a solvent based fuel cleaner in there before friday practice and bring some extra fuel filters.

I was blown away buy how much crap my 93 tank shed and for how long.

[Rob Liebbe]

I highly recommend adding a fuel pump access door if you are going to have to mess with pumps at the track if you don't already have one.

[drecords]

I highly recommend adding a fuel pump access door if you are going to have to mess with pumps at the track if you don't already have one.

+1 for access door. Took me about an hour and 2 beers to do this.

[Sook]

I highly recommend adding a fuel pump access door if you are going to have to mess with pumps at the track if you don't already have one.

Access door has already saved me a huge amount of time.

- Josh