The surge tank from ATL is basically a fuel resistant plastic box with three check valves (one on each side) + a fuel pick-up on the fourth side. I installed mine so that the check valves are facing to the sides and rear with the pick-up towards the front. The box has an open top, fits in the cell thru the stock opening (you have to unbolt the plate and cut out a section of foam to install) and then it just sits in the cell. My fuel return line dumps back into the surge tank to help keep it full. The only thing to be careful of is don't have the return line located too close to the pick-up, or you can suck air bubbles if the return fuel becomes aerated. I had this problem when I first converted to Fuel Injection for G-Prod. I isolated the return line with a scrap of cell foam and it has worked fine since then. I have managed to run the tank down to less than 1/4" of fuel at Road America, but have a slight problem at IRP and Mid-Ohio with long left hand sweepers (I offset the tank to the left since most tracks in Cen-Div are right handers) unless I carry an extra gallon or two on board, so I end up 6-12lbs heavier due to the extra fuel...not a big deal and I can find other places to take weight off. I think this slight problem will be cured by shifting the tank over 1 or 2 inches, plus I plan to add a simple baffle/cover plate for the surge tank. What I think is happening at those tracks is that the fuel is sloshing out of the surge tank. Note: This is on a Prod car with slicks so my cornering loads are a bit higher than a car on DOT tires, so it might not be an issue for an IT car.
If you can get your hands on three check valves (check if ATL sells just the valves) you could probably build a tank your self out of aluminum and save some money. It's a pretty simple design.
I'm personally not a big fan of external surge tanks from the safety standpoint. The internal tank is contained inside the cell which is a bit safer and the installation is pretty very straight forward.
Ben, is your car carb'd or injected (I can't remember)?
If it's carb'd, before you go to the trouble of re-inventing the wheel, you might try something simple like re-routing the fuel pick up line so that it faces the rear and draws fuel from the rear of the tank. As you accelerate, the fuel sloshes towards the rear and towards the pick-up. Alternately, you can do what the Spridget guys (carb'd engines) do and run is two small pumps with pick-ups located on either side, with the outlets connected via a 'T' with check valves on each side. The outlet of the 'T' feeds the carb. This way at least one pump is always delivering fuel no matter which direction the car is turning. Carb'd cars aren't affected by air. FI cars are a different story. A well designed simple surge tank will help.
[This message has been edited by Greg Gauper (edited January 04, 2005).]
