Fuel tanks

[1109RWHP]

What were most of the T/A cars using for fuel tanks as far as materials? Aluminum, stainless or stock steel?

[Jon Mello]

This ATL fuel cell ad from back in the day says the tanks were "metal". I feel pretty confident that back in that
1972 and earlier era, the fuel cells were painted steel, not aluminum or stainless. Prior to the fuel cells becoming
mandatory in April '68, many cars were running the factory steel gas tanks and often it was two factory steel gas
tanks so they had extra capacity. In April '68, maximum gas capacity was set at 22 gallons.

[Jon Mello]

This excerpt from an SCCA newsletter shows the fuel cells needed to be constructed of 20 gauge steel, minimum thickness.

[1109RWHP]

I always wondered about what they were made of after seeing the picture of the Penske tank with the twin fill cap and the straps going around it. It looked like it was made out of aluminum.

[Jon Mello]

The large capacity gas tank used in the '68 Penske Camaro at Daytona was made out of aluminum and I
think it may have just been a tank without any foam in it. This was prior to the mandate by SCCA that you
had to have a "metal" fuel cell in your Trans-Am car beginning in April '68.

[Jon Mello]

As for the tank with the straps over it, maybe you are talking about the one seen in the picture below.
This is in the "68 Camaro recently sold by Don Lee. This is the same car that used the large aluminum
tank at Daytona and Sebring. To me, it looks like the top is stainless and my guess it is something that
was added later.

[1109RWHP]

There was a picture of  40 gallon tank with the rounded corners in the car and it looked to me to be made from aluminum or stainless.

[Jon Mello]

Are you talking about this picture?

[1109RWHP]

That is the one.

[Jon Mello]

That is the tank seen on the ground in Reply #4 above. It was used in the first '68 Penske
Camaro for the long distance Daytona and Sebring races. It was replaced with a 22-gallon
fuel cell because of the SCCA mandate in April '68. The 40-gallon tank is aluminum.

[Jon Mello]

1971 article on the ATL fuel cells. A 20-gauge lacquered steel cannister is noted.