Sump Cover

[Bruce69Camaro]

Can someone correct me please?

I thought that if you had the sump of your fuel cell sticking through the bottom of your trunk floor, you needed to have a sump cover.

Is this correct?

My friend has an aluminum cell in his 81 Camaro and the sum is through the floor and when I mentioned this to him he said did the rules change, I thought I didn't need one if I had a rear firewall?

If he does need a sump cover, 20ga is thick enough, correct?

Thanks

[chpcamaro]

if i remember right it is only for plastic fuel cells that need a sump cover

[John_Heard]

Pretty sure regardless if the cell is steel or aluminum it's supposed to have a cover over the sump. Have to look it up in the NHRA regulations. I made one for mine years ago, I"m pretty sure that's why I did it.

[Bruce69Camaro]

Here is part of the rule: When used, fuel cells must have a metal box protecting the part of the fuel cell that is outside of body lines or trunk floor, excluding hose connection area in rear. Nonmetallic fuel cells or tanks must be grounded to frame.

The next question to be determined, is the fuel cell considered a metal box? If so, then he would not need one but I told him it's simple insurance.

[John_Heard]

My understanding of that rule is it's supposed to be covered regardless of the cell material. I've certainly seen a lot of them done that way.

However, you look at a Pro-Mod with the cell up front and they don't have them in a steel box so? Probably one of those deals that it's going to fall within the interpretation of the tech inspector. On that note, I've never had one even look at mine so...

[BracketNova]

Whoops...mines plastic and hanging down under my trunk floor like a fat mans belly behind a t-shirt. It's also not grounded. I'll ad these two items to the list - but I'm making no promises.