Facelift Fuel Tank into Cromie?

[Ianb]

Hi, Does anyone know if a facelift fuel tank and lines can be fitted in a cromie shell? I'm going to put a 318is engine into my immaculate 316 cromie shell and i just think it would be nicer to fit the facelift tank & a new set of lines if poss. Thanks

[Grrrmachine]

AFAIK there's no difference in the tank. The difference is in the pump, which is interchangeable between tanks.

[Ianb]

Thanks Grrmachine.

[DanThe]

The larger/better 63litre tank can be fitted (I have done this to mine) you just need to bend the external pump brackets on the nearside sill area, you will also need the rear section of loom, it plugs in on the RH side of the rear seat and is usually cable tied to the tube in that area, the loom is for the elec pump/level sender and diff sensor wire.
The return fuel line will need adding also

[Duke137]

AFAIK there's no difference in the tank. The difference is in the pump, which is interchangeable between tanks.

Not strictly true I don't think, I belive 316 carb chromies of Ian's vintage had a 55L tank without a swirl chamber where as the IS has a swirl chamber inside...

Could be wrong, I have had both types and I am sure the swirl chamber prevents starvation of fuel on the later type in tank fuel pump?

[Kedge]

AFAIK there's no difference in the tank. The difference is in the pump, which is interchangeable between tanks.

Not strictly true I don't think, I belive 316 carb chromies of Ian's vintage had a 55L tank without a swirl chamber where as the IS has a swirl chamber inside...

Could be wrong, I have had both types and I am sure the swirl chamber prevents starvation of fuel on the later type in tank fuel pump?

You are indeed correct Fergus!

[capnmchl]

Sorry to hi-jack the thread a bit, but I've got another question regarding fuel tanks.

If I were to do an M52 swap in my 316, would I need a different fuel tank to accomodate a fuel pump, or will there be an opening for one? My car has the smaller tank, and no lift pump due to being carbed. I take it I'll have to run a return fuel line.

[Kedge]

Accomodating the fuel pump wouldn't be a problem, a 318iS pump would drop straight in and then you'd just need to run the return to it. However you'll have the same issue Ferg mentioned, potential for fuel starvation on lefthand bends on low fuel due to no swirl pot.

[capnmchl]

So I take it the pump sits on the drivers side? I have the crossover pipe on my tank, but I guess when going round a left hand corner, that exacerbates the problem.

Is the swirl chamber part of the tank then?

[Duke137]

Is the swirl chamber part of the tank then?

Yes its built in if you look into the hole with a torch on both tanks you would see the difference

[capnmchl]

Bummer. So the best solution is a different tank.

Silly carbed cars, adding more expense to whats going to be an expensive conversion!

[Kedge]

Here's the swirl port.

[capnmchl]

Ahh I see.

So do all fuel injection models come with these, or only the bigger tanked cars and is'?

[Kedge]

Should be all fuel injected cars.

[age]

its fitted to later carbed engines too so worth checking

[capnmchl]

Mines an 86. I'll have to pull the back seat up and have a look. Seems weird they'd fit it to the 318i's and make a different tank for 316's

[Grrrmachine]

Cheers for the info guys. I've amended the Wiki accordingly.

[Brianmoooore]

Here's the swirl port.

This is a 62 litre tank. The 55 litre version will be the same, less the small pipe that you can see brazed into the pot.
The pipe is where fuel from the LH side of the tank and the return from the fuel rail enters the RH side, replacing the second pipe on 55 litre fuel pumps, and the pipe that links the two sides at the bottom of the smaller tank.
Fairly unlikely that anyone would want to do so, but you can't use a 62 litre tank with a carb. engine.