Keep them full
They are not painted on the inside - the petrol is the only thing that keeps them from rusting.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

lets not forget with twin tanks not olny do you double the capacity but you get a better balance of weight over the wheels.

but only when there is nobody in the drivers seat.

you are a wealth of knowledge bloke how do you do it for the money

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busier than a 0ne legged man in a butt kicking competion

it was serious comment. Twin tanks only balance an empty car, if you put a driver in it and you have twin tanks the car is actually less balanced.

It would balance there rear I guess.

That's not the point though. It doubles your fuel capacity. Both my mini's (well nots actually mine.....) have twin and it's great, especially in that I live a fair way from any real fuel station. If I wanted more range I would would be a rover long range tank and run both but no need really. And my RHD tank only cost $150. The first time I went to a hotbricks meeting I said a I needed one and I was offered one for $150, so I said "yeah ok."

I wouldnt pay that for a LHD one though.....

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

So is the basic feeling that the tanks aren't really in demand at the moment?

Thanks Wombat, I spoke to Paul, who said that he was finishing off his moulder and that he wasn't sure exactly when it would be ready. He said that he would be after $500 for the tank and fitting kit. I was hoping to get them made for a little less than that. But dont know whether i could sell enough of them to make it worth while.

Regarding the tank without filler neck, without any previous knowledge on how quickly the tanks level, do you usually pour fuel from both sides - ie. fill one side and then fill the other? Or does the fuel flow pretty quickly? I'm not sure a breather would be the best idea as you'll get fuel smell all through your interior. Would you really need one? what would its purpose be - to not create a vaccum i suppose, what about two lines - one at the top and one at the bottom?

Miniboy, It takes about 10 minutes for the tanks to level out! You definitly have to fill both at the servo, If I just fill the l/h, the guage shows full initially, then a while down the road the tanks balance, and you only have 1/2 showing on the gauge!

As was said, the balance pipe is only small, 1/4" internal bore I think!

Graham

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

there's an excellent stonie cartoon in one of the mini experiences that describes the procedure...

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He He! there is too! he nips from tank to tank "just adrop more in 'ere", then "a bit more this side" .........repeat etc!

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

Hence the need for a large balance pipe if wanting to only fill from one tank!!

But it would also need the left tank outlet to be enlarged.

Hmmm, All seems to be a lot of work.

Wouldn't even go close to paying $500 for a plastic tank with fitting kit. I can get a genuine tank (2 hand) and new fitting kit for less.... Anyway, I suppose Paul knows what he is doing....

Yep breather needed for a vacuum preventative, and probably best to run it over to the other tank, so more mods.

Good idea tho.

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68 Deluxe.... it's shiny..... I like shiny!!

i think most people have had the "making new right hand tanks" idea. i had one of mine slip open and was going to make a mould....etc etc
in the end the cost to make one would be too high, and then people wouldnt buy them because most people are waiting for a bargain etc etc.
my next project is making plastic shrouds for under the rear wheel archs and the front wings to stop stone chips and road scum. in the uk they go for 65 pounds just for the front. rip off

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real men race downhill - keiichi tsuchiya

I run a large LS type tank on the left & a cooper "S" r/h tank ,,, & if i go on long trips i will also take a 10litre jerry can as well

with the "balance the car" thing, if there was only the driver in the car, then with the the battery on the right & the right hand fuel tank will out weigh the drivers side & the left side would be light

but a few spares & tools, bottle of water & oil & brake fluid strategically placed can help balance it nicely



But that`s just what i do, doesn`t mean that everyone should do it

I`m having a good friend of mine (Dale) fab me up a long range alloy tank for the boot of the fastback Monaco mini , with the twin cam 16v turbo engine in it will surely need some extra fuel for all the long trips to hay etc

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

"Long range" tanks aren't big enough!

Well my theory was that they would be cheaper than buying a genuine RH tank if in plastic. Obviously I was mistaken.

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On the fill up procedure, I fill up the right then the left (no reason why you couldnt park on the other side and do it the other way) and that's fine.

I used to fill up the right go fill the left go back and top up the right but it really wasn't worth it, the rate at which they cross feed is very minimal. As said above about 10 minutes would probably be close.

My thinking is that with my car using more fuel that a stock one (More air + more fuel = more power) you would want/need another tank. Also it allows me to get fuel once a week on the cheapest day rather than twice a week with a single tank. I fill up usally when it hits 1/2 way, in a single tan kthat would be empty, need to fill up before it's empty!

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T