Whats needed to put a fuel cell in?

[JTX]

Well the pump on my 94 left me stranded agian! This time in the middle of no where! So im thinking of adding a fuel cell and fuel pump without using the stock wiring. Theres a couple reasons why i wanna do this one being that i would have more room underneath. This would be benifical when i go 4 link in the rear. Another thing is after seeing how the stock pump is wired it kinda gives me the creeps. If one of those wires in the tank came loose wouldnt you pretty much blow up? lol. I have the room between my roll cage in the back to add the fuel cell, just need to know whats all needed.

 

[Bronco638]

I've been kicking this around and cannot come up with a good answer either (so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread). I know there are five openings in the '96 fuel tank (fill, vent, fuel pump, transducer, and return (?)). There are several good candidates for swapping; BII and Zeep tanks. If all those openings are needed in the new tank, then it makes the job a little more difficult.

 

[tdavis]

To use a fuel cell:

1) check the local smog rules. If you have smog rules, you could be screwed (ie, California.. )
2) look on summitracing for the streetpro cells. You need at a minimum 3 fittings - a fill, fuel supply, and fuel return. You can also get them with fuel level sensors - make sure you get the right one.
3) Find a new fuel pump - a good one appears to be for a Ford F150 truck (around 89 model year)

 

[Bronco638]

Tom,
Could you provide a little more detail on your last post?
1 - What do the smog rules have to do with a different fuel tank?
2 - If you don't need a fill vent or transducer port, wouldn't some sort of code be thrown if the transducer disappeared?
3 - Would the F150 pump be internal or external (to the tank)? If external, why not use something like a Holley pump or is there a specific fuel pressure required (by the GEM) and provided by the F150 pump?

Thanks, Dave.

 

[410Fortune]

This is not a project for the faint of heart.
There is nothing wrong with the factory wiring, you will not blow up if the + wire touches ground, hahahaha not unless it ssome freak accident.

Where do you want to put it? Inside the cab?
Your best source for answers is the fuel cell makers,

there is alot of info on them on the "prerunner" websites, alot of rangers in CA run cells (not street legal) and they would be your best source for research

 

[Longjohn119]

I can answer your first question Dave ... you don't have any of the evaporative parts of the pollution control system ... charcoal canister, purge valve, vent, etc so it won't pass an emissions test

 

[JTX]

LOL, thanks 410. I always wondered about that, cause you would think if they touch it would make a spark. I just dont understand what would cause it to quit again. The pump maybe had 2 hours on it. What gives? The relay is fine and its getting power to the connection on top.

 

[410Fortune]

Make sure its plugged in all the way, those suckers are a PITA to get plugged in all the way (harness to pump)

I have seen faulty new pumps. Where did you get it?
Did you replace the whole intank assembly or just the pump?

 

[Bronco638]

I can answer your first question Dave ... you don't have any of the evaporative parts of the pollution control system ... charcoal canister, purge valve, vent, etc so it won't pass an emissions test

Thanks.

Actually, I was thinking about installing a Zeep or BII tank, not necessarily a fuel cell. That way I could keep all that pollution control stuff, pass emissions and still have a tank more centrally located. The fill vent isn't that big of a deal but the transducer.......?

 

[JTX]

410, I just changed the pump. Before it died it was kinda sputtering for a ways, almost like the feeling when its running out of gas. To me that sounds like a connection problem. But i cant really check cause im 300 miles away at school.