S1 thru Sprint Fuel Tank differences

[Tahoe]

Does anyone have any knowledge of differences in the Elan fuel tanks? Specifically the angle of the fuel filler, and the internal baffle position and configuration? Do early tank (S1&S2) internal baffle dimensions differ in the dimension from the sending unit flange to the baffle? Is there a different angle to the filler neck from series to series? I don't want to elaberate why I'm asking this question yet, except that I have an interest in knowing, and hopefully someone has the answers.

[frearther]

There's a baffle in an S2 tank? I guess the PO must have done a modification.

[Elanman99]

[quote="frearther"]There's a baffle in an S2 tank? I guess the PO must have done a modification.[/quote]

I think I would assume that all fuel tanks have internal baffles. Maybe its only one bit of bent metal but any sort of 'wall' inside the tank is going to significantly stop the fuel sloshing around.

From memory (not having seen inside the boot of an S1 for a few years) I think the tanks through the whole life of the car did not change much.

Ian

[prezoom]

My S2 has a baffle and the tank appears original.

Rob Walker
26-4889

[Tahoe]

The reason I asked is because mine is also original and has a baffle, but I was wondering if that baffle distance ever changed in the fuel tank run from beginning to end. The distance I'm talking about is from the mounting flange to the actual baffle. It's critical for clearance of the sending unit float. I guess if the baffle were in the wrong place then you could shorten the float arm, but then you don't get an accurate reading for the gauge. I know senders were different fom early to late series so I was wondering if the actual float arm distance ever changed.

[Tahoe]

I just got home and measered both my original sending unit with float, and the distance from the flange to the baffle inside the original tank. At the longest point the float was 8 1/2 inches from the mounting surface to the farthest point of the float. The distance to the baffle was 9 7/8 inches. So 1 3/8 inches of clearance at the closest point, so plenty of clearance to swing freely.

Anyone have an S3, S4, or Sprint sending unit they can measure for comparison? If you do I'd like to know from the face of the flange to the furthest point of the float.

[Jeff@Jae]

I think the only physical difference in the senders was the clocking of the mounting holes in the sender and mounting plate on the tank. My S2 sender has a hole at 12 O'clock and the later senders in stock are not.

[Tahoe]

I didn't know about the clocking of the holes (I'm going to check mine tonight), but I've been told the later sending unit reads just the opposite of the early one, i.e. an early gauge would read backwards on later sending unit.

FYI, I've received 2 emails from owners who measured the depth of the baffle, and both came up with my dimension of 10 inches from the mounting flange. It's still not clear if the later sending unit was shorter and therefore the baffle was closer. Someday we'll find out.

[0005K]

Regarding float arm length, I am about to re-install the original sender in my Federal S4.
Dick