Gas Tank to Fuel Cell Replacement

Has anyone replaced the stock gas tank with a trunk-mounted aluminum fuel cell? I have to replace the tank on my '71 roadster this winter. Looks like it took a whack at some point in the past, and I've got a leak. . .I think it's at the front tank seam. If I exclude plumbing, the cost of an aluminum fuel cell is actually less than a replacement stock tank. I'm wondering about the benefits of maybe mounting the tank on the trunk bulkhead or in the bottom of the trunk, going down through the trunk floor with the lines and moving the filler to the rear deck somewhere with an aluminum filler cover. Just thinking out loud here. . .would move the weight a little higher but closer to the center of the car. Would take up some of the trunk room, but I don't carry anything in the trunk anyway. Thoughts?

you'd loose the fuel level indicator...the foam would get in the way unless there were some special construction for it inside the cell.

Why go to the hassle of installing a fuel tank for no real advantage since you aren't racing, buy a new tank and it bolts right in provided the rust gods allow the bolts to be freed with PB. You might also consider a Heritage tank or one with a baffle.

Dang! I thought this was going to be about a hydrogen conversion!

yep, the tank drops real easy, I placed a floor jack underneath it to support the bolts dropping. There are just a handful, and it drops out without a problem.
Then you know it goes back in the way it came out. If you are concerned about another hit, you could beef up the bottom with some rhino liner.

While the tank is cheaper, all the plumbing and rerouting of the fuel filler could make it a wash, or more expensive.

Dropping the tank will also give you a great chance to check out the condition of the trunk floor, etc. You could take the opportunity to attack any rust in the area and coat out the bottom of the trunk with fresh paint and some undercoating. Then treat the new tank to some paint and undercoat, maybe Rhino liner as somebody said above and you'd have that whole section of the car primo.

The fittings on fuel cells are usually A N fittings. I used a molded plastic cell in the boot of an Elan to avoid a $750 steel gas tank and found it took about $50 for a couple of fittings with hose barbs. I would think that aluminum or plastic fuel cells should be called "Generic Gas Tanks".

Like this?

That's the idea!