Soup can surge tank?

Matt Cramer · Post by **Matt Cramer** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 3:22 pm

While looking for something that might make a good surge tank, it suddenly occurred to me that I might be able to fashion one out of a soup can. Braze a fitting to the bottom, make a sheet metal lid with the appropriate fittings on top, and braze the lid on. Seems like it would be pretty quick to make, cheap, and safe. Is this a good way to get a surge tank or is there something I'm missing here?

Post by **jsmcortina** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:09 pm

That can is likely to be very thin indeed, a slight bit of rust and petrol will be all over the place. It wouldn't be too hard to braze one up out of slightly thicker steel sheet.

James

renns · Post by **renns** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:00 pm

Matt,

I'd recycle the soup can, and find another more robust source for a tank. Take a wander around the wreckers, and see what you can find. Attached is a pic of my surge tank I fabricated from an old power steering reservoir from some older domestic car. The reservoir already had a mount and some fittings built in, and I just brazed in the extras I needed.

Roger.

Mk1rocco · Post by **Mk1rocco** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:43 pm

This link has got one of the cleverest idea for a surge tank I've ever come across. It uses the body of the fuel filter as the tank so it combines the function of surge and pre-filter into one simple unit.

lamrith · Post by **lamrith** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:56 pm

THANKS FOR THE PLUG!!! I was just going to post that link to my site..

I got that idea from 4x4 bronco guys that convert to 5.0L EFI motors..

It will really let about any Carb'd car become EFI friendly. the only other thing is to get a return line to the fuel tank... I have seen people make a fitting into the filler hose to do that...

I have a good 2k miles on mine and not had a problem since I installed it, and I am running a 5.0L SBF.

Matt Cramer · Post by **Matt Cramer** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:03 pm

Thanks, everyone. That fuel filter setup looks like a truly elegant solution. I was looking for surge tank like things at Tractor Supply and noticed they had a few fuel filter elements like that.

PSIG · Post by **PSIG** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:10 pm

My first surge tank was made from a fire extinguisher body - but the filter idea is kick-butt! I'll check at the boneyard next trip for a GM diesel remote filter setup like that - or does anyone have a better/cheaper source for the remote filter head unit?

David

Matt Cramer · Post by **Matt Cramer** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:25 pm

The ones I saw at Tractor Supply were around $25 for both the filter and the head. They had ridiculously large fittings (like 1" NPT), so you'd probably also need a few bushings to connect them.

uberbug · Post by **uberbug** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:26 pm

I was digging stuff out of the boneyard this weekend and saw a nice solution. The mid 80's Jettas have a pump with what looks like two surge tanks: one on each side. They look like they hold around a pint of fuel, perhaps slightly less. It is under the car just in front of the fuel tank. Its a unit around 1.5' x .75' rectangular.

I knew I should have grabbed that unit and brought it home!

I do like the fuel filter idea though also. As long as fuel won't eat away at the filter: but I guess if it is oil safe it should be gas safe...

fscott · Post by **fscott** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:01 am

uberbug wrote: I do like the fuel filter idea though also. As long as fuel won't eat away at the filter: but I guess if it is oil safe it should be gas safe...

Instead of usinga gas filter, you can get one of the spin-on filters that's meant to go on a gas pump. It's got a lot of capacity and is meant to filter fuel.

TimMoman · Post by **TimMoman** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:10 am

That is sweet, Just what I am needing to MS the Cutlass. I am using the universal mounts and probably the same Filter in my set up anyway. Most have 1/2 in pipe fittings. Be aware there are different center thread sizes for the filters. Be sure to match the base with the filter. The parts store will have a WIX book to show these options. For those who are interested in part numbers. There are also different size filters that I have listed. Check the racing button for a good review. The bases are also listed.
http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/index.asp
Universal mount 24762 or 24766
Fuel Filter 33281
tranny oil filter 51622

**would not use an oil filter for this purpose. Besides the fuel filter can be had for about $15, may take a day or two for the parts store to pull it in.

T3Bunny · Post by **T3Bunny** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:16 am

uberbug wrote:The mid 80's Jettas have a pump with what looks like two surge tanks: one on each side. They look like they hold around a pint of fuel, perhaps slightly less.

Yep, they work nicely till they break!

I knew I should have grabbed that unit and brought it home!

Naw, ya did yoursef a favor NOT getting it! I just had one spontaniously explode in the basement. It was just SITTING there and for unknown reasons decided to pop. I had gas everywhere... I am not sure WHY somebody put it down there, and this was a dangerous situation to find. Took three days to get the smell out of the house. These things will eventually leak and they are not cheap to replace when you ask for a new one. And I have been told you can't replace just the fuel pump...

jcorsaro · Post by **jcorsaro** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:02 pm

I finished up a surge tank for my next fuel injected project. It's made from a mid 80's Toyota power steering reservoir. The reservoir had to be welded together, since the top of it was originally sealed with a rubber gasket. Inside there is a fine brass screen, the fuel to the high pressure pump is drawn from below the screen, kind of a pre-filter. The return to the fuel tank has a restriction in it to place some back pressure on the low pressure pump.

T3Bunny · Post by **T3Bunny** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 10:52 pm

That looks very nice! Should work pretty good.