4 replies to this topic

[runkthepunk]

Hello all!

I have finally got all the bits together to fit my right hand tank (i hope) so before I start to knacker things up I just wanted to ask:

Has anyone used the minispares fitting kit to fit their own right hand tank?

I ask because there are no fitting instructions and I want to make sure I do it properly and am trying to figure out what goes where: pipe connections brackets etc

here is a picture of the kit

 MS82.jpg   4.78K   34 downloads

fitting is further complicated by my left hand unit being an injection fuel tank that has had pipes disconnected/plugged accordingly as I have a CARB engine now

basically I need help from someone with more skill than me...so probably most other people on the forum.

I need to know what to plumb in and where the brackets go inside the car.

hope you can help me out

Cheers

Rob

[dklawson]

It appears the MS kit is designed to replicate all the factory bits that would have been used to attach a RH tank. However, there is an item I don't see in the picture of the kit parts. There should be a "table" piece made to attach to the boot floor, the tank rests on that.

The large sheet metal bracket in the picture attaches to the seat back. It is positioned (more or less) symmetrical to the one behind the LH tank. However, from memory the LH and RH upper brackets do have different shapes. The straps will require that you drill a hole through the boot floor.

Lacking instructions I'll offer the following general advice. Remove the LH tank and tape a piece of thin cardboard over the outside of the car covering the hole for the existing gas tank opening. Position the cardboard up against the seam cover on the rear quarter panel and mark clearly where the edge of the back window and boot openings are. Without moving the cardboard, on the inside of the boot trace the circular body opening for the LH tank filler neck onto the cardboard.

Remove the cardboard, flip it over, and position it against the RH seam cover, lining up the marks you made for the rear glass and boot opening. Once positioned and taped in place, you will be looking at the circle you traced from the LH tank filler neck opening. Cut the opening for the RH tank using whatever tools you have available. Cut right up to the outline of the traced circle on the template. File the edges smooth and apply some protective paint over the cut edges.

Once the paint is dry, temporarily fit the filler neck grommet and RH tank. Jocky the positions of the brackets and straps around until you determine where they need to be for the best appearance and fit. Trace the outline of the brackets as best you can (onto the inside of the boot) then remove the brackets and RH tank. Position the brackets back into/over the traced outlines and transfer the mounting holes. Drill and pop rivet as needed.

Hopefully you have that bottom support bracket I was mentioning. If not, you will need to improvise something as the tank isn't supposed to rest directly on the boot floor.

[runkthepunk]

Hello

Thanks for the reply sounds like good advice and easy to follow but maybe you can help me some more.

Yes I do have the other piece you mention I don't know why its not on the minispares picture as it comes as part of their kit.

Although now having read my Haynes manual I am pretty sure I won't be able to fit the right hand tank at all!

As I mentioned before I have the later SPi tank system butchered to work with a carb (return pipe disconnected/blocked) the tank has the fuel pump inside rather than separately underneath the car so that means the solid connection pipe from the kit is not correct but the biggest problem is: as I understand it the injection fuel system is pressurised forcing the fuel up the fuel pipe rather than gravity and suction taking it down into the pump in a carb version

the right hand tank is obviously not air sealed at all and from this I assume the system will not pressurise thus not sending the fuel anywhere

Does this sound at all correct?

If so how easy will it be to back to a standard carb tank and external fuel pump?

Thanks

Rob

[dklawson]

As I mentioned before I have the later SPi tank system butchered to work with a carb (return pipe disconnected/blocked)

I must have missed that thread. I don't see any mention in your first post above that you have/had an SPI.

Regardless, please clarify something. If I understand you correctly, you are saying the FUEL TANK is an SPI tank but your engine currently has a carburetor? Is that correct? If I'm wrong, please disregard my other comments below.

the tank has the fuel pump inside rather than separately underneath the car so that means the solid connection pipe from the kit is not correct but the biggest problem is: as I understand it the injection fuel system is pressurised forcing the fuel up the fuel pipe rather than gravity and suction taking it down into the pump in a carb version

I have not worked on a Mini with fuel injection but the non-Mini cars I have worked on with EFI are indeed pressurized... but NOT the tank. The fuel pump may be inside the tank and the lines exiting the tank will be at high pressure but NOT the tank itself. That would be a rather dangerous situation in the event of an accident.

the right hand tank is obviously not air sealed at all and from this I assume the system will not pressurise thus not sending the fuel anywhere. Does this sound at all correct? If so how easy will it be to back to a standard carb tank and external fuel pump?

Again, I have no experience with injected Minis so take my comments below and weigh them against what you know.

If your car has a carburetor, specifically an SU carburettor, you are NOT using the high pressure fuel injection pump in your tank... or if you are, there is a significant pressure reduction regulator somewhere after the tank. SU carbs operate on about 3 PSI of fuel pressure (MAX) and EFI pumps can deliver upwards of 100 PSI. Regardless, your LH tank will be vented somehow, somewhere. Again, the tank is not pressurized and in fact... must have a vent somewhere. If there were not a vent the vacuum produced inside by using the fuel would eventually prevent any fuel from being pumped.

Basically what I'm saying is that if you can find a way to "T" the RH tank to the LH tank you will be OK fitting the RH tank. I don't even know where the SPI tank return line is (the one you said was capped). However, it may be possible to connect the RH tank to the return line port on the LH tank if it is on or near the bottom of the tank. Others more familiar with SPI tanks and how they are converted to work with a carburetor will have to give you specific information and suggestions.

[karlos_junior]

on the minispares website there is a thing to get the instructions if you got to the product you are looking at.
but sound like you got all the instructions you could need! Good luck!