WARNING, Shelby 7000 & 8000 Series Continuation Cobra!!!

[CompClassics]

I wanted to reach out to owners of these Cobras that given when their individual Cobra was built that the fuel cell that was installed in the Cobra may be fast approaching or past its safe use, according to "Fuel Safe" the manufacturer of the fuel cell gives a finite life of up to a nine years. Racing organizations mandate replacement of a fuel cell every five years. Shelby the manufacturer of these vehicles has failed to inform Continuation Series Cobra owners of any potential safety concerns regarding this issue.

https://www.fuelsafe.com/white_paper...ell-facts.html

[fordracing65]

Do they have to replace the bladder or the tank, did it use a bladder, how much is a replacement, what does the Kirkham use...

[CompClassics]

Shelby used a bladder in a metal container.
Kirkham used a stainless tank.

[Jamo]

Good post!

Everyone using a fuel cell should pay attention to this. I found out when the bladder in my Butler literally crumbled apart after 12+ years...I knew nothing about the limited life. What finally caused it to fail was the use of an octane booster containing alcohol. Alcohol should not be used in a bladder unless it is designed for alcohol-based fuels. What effect ethanol in consumer gasoline has probably depends on the percentage, but it does make following the mfg's (Fuel Safe and others) recommendations about replacement even more persuasive.

[CowtownCobra]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Good post!

Everyone using a fuel cell should pay attention to this. I found out when the bladder in my Butler literally crumbled apart after 12+ years...I knew nothing about the limited life. What finally caused it to fail was the use of an octane booster containing alcohol. Alcohol should not be used in a bladder unless it is designed for alcohol-based fuels. What effect ethanol in consumer gasoline has probably depends on the percentage, but it does make following the mfg's (Fuel Safe and others) recommendations about replacement even more persuasive.

Hmmm......and what might the gas tank in your new cobra be made of?

[Jamo]

The arruminum can has a stainless tank.

That being said...I'm old enough to be concerned what alcohol does to my other bladder.

[CompClassics]

Retrofitting a alloy 7000 Series Continuation with a stainless steel fuel tank.....

[CompClassics]

I should have included 4000 and 6000 Series Continuation Series Cobras as well, unfortunately I can not edit the title line.

[mickmate]

I have been converting a lot of cells back to tanks. The addition of a couple of baffles makes them a lot stiffer and the fuel can't eat gaskets, foam and bladders that aren't in there anymore. I'm really excited about a spark suppression I've been installing in all the tanks I make now. Combat vehicles are using it for the safety aspect. It also works as a baffle, outlasts the container, weighs and displaces very little. There is a great demo video of it here. The Problem & The DSS

[twobjshelbys]

I was told by SA about the fuel cell time out but probably because I was in regular communication with them about other things. I also know that anyone that knows about fuel cells knows about the time factor and plans accordingly. The first and foremost thing about owning an exotic is to get educated.

My plan would have been to replace it with a baffled tank.

[CompClassics]

I've done several conversions to baffled stainless fuel tanks on the 7000 Series, the 7000 & 8000 Series are more labor intensive than the 4000 & 6000 Series Cobras which just drop out the bottom. Shelby also used narrower (less volume) tanks on the 7000 & 8000 Series Cobra, I have been installing full size tanks (photo above) which have increased the range for the owners. I have not spoken to one owner that was aware of the limited life of the fuel cell in their Cobras.

[rodneym]

I was told Shelby ditched the fuel cell on CSX6000's

[CompClassics]

I stand corrected on the 6000 Series, nice to know SAI corrected the problem by then. The first 6000 Series I have had in the shop had already been converted to a stainless 42 gallon tank.

[mickmate]

I haven't seen a 6000 with a tank unless I did it.

[rodneym]

mickmate,
I didn't mean to imply that CSX6000 started with a ss tank. But mine, as well as what they're (Shelby/Hitech) making now, is ss.

[mickmate]

I've only seen the aluminum can fuel cells. Are the SS ones cells or tanks?

[rodneym]

Tanks. Maybe not SS, but steel. No bladders.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by mickmate

I have been converting a lot of cells back to tanks. The addition of a couple of baffles makes them a lot stiffer and the fuel can't eat gaskets, foam and bladders that aren't in there anymore. I'm really excited about a spark suppression I've been installing in all the tanks I make now. Combat vehicles are using it for the safety aspect. It also works as a baffle, outlasts the container, weighs and displaces very little. There is a great demo video of it here. The Problem & The DSS

I know about this all only too well!
There is already a thread a couple of years old from me about it.
My 42 gal Fuel Safe cell went to complete sh__.
Bladder was deteriorating and inside "foam" was all eaten up.
Can't remember how much to replace the cell when I called Fuel Safe, but it was several thousand dollars (thinking around $4k).
Pulled the aluminum tank and shipped it across country to Mickmate who installed baffles, reserve pickup area and plumbing, welded the lid on and tested it. Sounds extreme, but Fuel Safe actually told me 4 years on their bladder setups and I'm just not going to do that!
If I race someday again, I'll figure it out. For now, all is good.

[twobjshelbys]

Your first hint will be two clogged fuel filters in two or three tank fills that was the heads up I got from sai

[Bernica]

Next hint will be the leaking from the edges of the tank because they weren't set up or tested to hold fuel since they had a cell.