Expert: Dan Liddy - 5/2/2006

Question
Hi, Im building a circle track car out of an 87 stanza with ca20e motor. I pulled out the fuel tank because I need to run a fuel cell and It has 4 seperate lines. Obviously one is the feed line, one is a return line and another up along the filler neck thats just a ven line...but what is the 4th for? I was told that it is just an extra vent line and can be just removed completely. Is this true? thanks for your time

Answer
Hi Cole :
I think the fourth line might be a line that vents the tank to a charcoal filter under the hood .  I can't be sure though and perhaps you should pose the question to a service tech at your Nissan dealer.

When building a race car, ALL fuel lines should be replaced, and moved to the center of the car, either solid metal underneath, or the braided aircraft hose, and run through the cockpit.   It's not an area for skimping, there is nothing worse or more threatening than a fuel fire. Whatever you do , do NOT use the rubber type fuel hose sold at auto parts houses.  Call Summit Racing at 1-800-230-3030 and ask for a catalog, and do some research on both fuel cells, and the braided hose I mention.  They have excellent tech advisers there too.

Since I am at this time , doing some legal consulting work reagarding a catastrophic fire in a race accident, let me also recommend that your fuel cell be mounted as far away from any impact area as possible. It should be  protected with as much framework as the rules allow.  There should  be a solid fireproof  bulkhead between the driver area, and the cell. Finally, a fire supression system is a very good idea even if they don't require it.   I certainly wouldn't get in a race car without one !

My apologies for "too much information" but safety in racing is very important to me. Fire safety is something I rant about because I have been burned in a fuel fire. Believe me it is not something I recommend.  Every time I teach a class of new drivers , I point out that my attention to various safety regulations is the only reason I am still able to be with them.

Good luck

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida