Cheap, quick and easy midtank

[Hpi_DirtDawg57]

I have wanted to do the mid tank mod for a long time now, in fact I bought a mugen tank cheap on ebay last year with the hopes of doing it. But I went to college and ran out of money and time to get it done. But for some reason I just can keep my rc addiction suppressed so a few days ago when I had a couple hours with nothing to do I decided to sit down with some tools and see what I could do. I didn't have time or money to buy the stuff needed to relocate my servo and cut up my radio box and all that jazz so I had nothing to loss. I tried a couple ideas of where I could mount the tank and finally found a spot it could possibly fit and went for it, here is how it turned out.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=24395&id=647328257

http://photos-g.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554046_3517.jpg

I bent a small piece of metal and drilled holes in it to form a bracket.

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554047_3762.jpg

I used the original rear tank mounting bracket for the back and just drilled a new hole in the chassis plate for it.

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554046_3517.jpg

I like it the tank position because of it keeps the center of gravity much lower than most mid tank mods while still balancing out the chassis by moving some weight forward. But I was concerned that the tank was in a good position to get a hole knocked in it.

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554049_4273.jpg

So I came up with a crude skid plate that I formed out a simple piece of sheet metal.

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554043_2767.jpg

I put a upward slant on it to try it redirect harsh blows and prevent it from getting caught on things.

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554042_2532.jpg

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554044_3011.jpg

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554041_2245.jpg

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v265/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554101_1479.jpg

The only issue I encountered was that the fuel lid wouldn't open with the stock brake wire in the way. To fix the problem I replaced the old rigid wire with a piece of bike brake cable, I used an adjustable stopper on the brake lever side so the brake intensity could still be adjusted.

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v265/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554102_1760.jpg

This way the cable just flexes out of the way when the lid opens, even while braking. Even though these pictures aren't very clear, it actually looks pretty cool too.

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v265/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554109_2072.jpg

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554050_4535.jpg

http://photos-257.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_554051_4798.jpg

It isn't the most beautiful tank mod known to man but that wasn't really my goal, considering that I didn't have to buy anything except the mugen tank, the servos remain protected in the radio box, the CG was dramatically lowered, the weight was moved forward making it much more balanced over jumps, all leaning issues were cured and it only took a couple of hours to complete, I think I'm satisfied. With more time and resources I think it could be made much better.

[Jeremy]

I like it man .. Welcome to hpisf !!!

I love that body also

[MotoPsycho]

Great 1st post! Welcome, and thanks for sharin'!

[Hpi_DirtDawg57]

Thanks! I have tested it and it has stayed solid. Now just to find a way to refuel without making the body look to ugly. lol

[MotoPsycho]

Thanks! I have tested it and it has stayed solid. Now just to find a way to refuel without making the body look to ugly. lol

"Necessity is the mother of invention!"

[SunkenMetal]

Welcome to the forum... I like it, anything made with old parts or what you have laying around is number one in my book... :bluehack:

[benny]

way to compromise man good thinkin, tell us how it works with the tank right there, welcome to the forum

[THE JUDGE]

I really like what you did there. Good thinking, and I'll bet it works great.

And welcome to the forum!!

[Bankrupter]

I like it too. But I need to ask if it made mid tank lean issues worse by moving the tank below the carb?.

[Hpi_DirtDawg57]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone, I am very impressed with this forum and have found a ton of helpful advice here.

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v286/221/71/647328257/n647328257_555764_8731.jpg

I think some stickers make it look a little better.

I like it too. But I need to ask if it made mid tank lean issues worse by moving the tank below the carb?.

I was worried about that too but I have run about 4 tanks through it and have not noticed any leaning issues. Its a little rich when the tanks clear full but after about a minute the temps settled at about 220 and didn't change for the rest of the tank. I am having a new problem now because I'm running out of nitro fuel and don't have any money for more. I wanted to do more testing but I'm trying to save some fuel for a trip to the race track. I guess I need to hold a fund raiser for myself...lol

[Shaun]

welcome to the hpisf family my friend glad ya found us!!!!!!! and yes hpisf is quickly becoming the friendlest and most helpful forum i know of!! and great work on modding the tank location!!

[Chris]

"Necessity is the mother of invention!"

Have you ever read the rest of that quote?

"Necessity is the mother of invention, it is true -- but its father is creativity, and knowledge is the midwife".

Should be our motto honestly. Very fitting.

Good work on the tank bud.

[Nisse]

I think it looks great, how much does it contain? :) As already said, feel very Welcome here! :resp: