'99 Van Diemen Fuel Cell Removal

[Dale Carter]

I need some advice on removing the fuel cell on a '99 Van Diemen chassis. I have the "Y" brace removed and the inspection cover off. What's next?
Thanks, Dale

[carl correll]

Only done this once. I think that we just gave up and took it out the bottom when the floor came off.

[Steve Thomson]

I did it once. I took all the foam out, then it will collapse enough to get it out the hole.

Steve

[Dale Carter]

Are you saying I can get the whole cell out through the 4"x6" inspection hole? Yipes!

[Daniel]

Remove the radiator. Drill out the rivets holding the lower front cover (the panel with the inspection hole) to the cell enclosure. Slide the panel out the side of the frame. Now, with the lower half of the X-brace removed, you can work the cell out of the opening. When re-installing the cell, a liberal coating of baby powder on the outside of the cell makes it slide back in much easier. Hope that helps.

[Dale Carter]

Thanks for all the replies. Dale

[Daniel]

Ooops, forgot something....loosen or remove the cockpit side bodywork so that you can slide that cell enclosure piece out.

[Scott Gesford]

How do you get the Y brace off? Or should I just take the floor off?

[Scott Gesford]

Anybody?

[PK]

The 'Y'-brace is just bolted in at each leg end. One vertical bolt going down right in front of the middle of the fuel cell, and two going up through the floor angling inboard. Floor panels bought from Van Diemen have access holes already there. If you don't have them, it would be pretty hard to locate where to drill such a hole. Unfortunately, pulling the floor is not a trivial task since putting it back together requires a lot of riveting and some epoxy to do it right (see previous threads on floor replacement).

[Dale Carter]

Scott, check for the holes in the belly pan. If you don't have them I can take some measurements off of ours. I put our bare chassis up on high horses over the weekend so it would not be a big deal to get them for you. If you a are careful with a drill and open the holes up with a die grinder, you should be ok. Dale

[Scott Gesford]

Thanks Dale. I'll look at it again this weekend.