I've been looking and calling vendors trying to locate someone who can help me source parts for and/or fabricate an air tank that has the look of a Mooneyes (Moon gasser) fuel tank. Real Moon tanks are not pressure tanks and cannot be used, or modified to be used as air tanks. So, I'm looking for someone who can fab one (at a reasonable cost), or help me locate a vendor to supply aluminum elliptical dished ends. The center section (pipe) is pretty easy to find, it's the ends that are the problem. Ideally, the ends would be 8" OD so the Moon mounting brackets can be utilized. Any ideas out there? Thanks.
Hey, Steve; Don't know how much pressure you need/want, but for a sorta-maybe-kinda-almost-close approximation for a MOON tank(how's them for weasel-words... ), look into a mini beer keg, or small pop keg. They're pressurizeable, but I don't know to what level. IIRC, they're ~ 1 or 2 gal in size. Ends are curved in, but I suppose you could cut-n-reverse them. Somewhere, probably from the ~mid70's 2nd or 3rd R&C StreetRod pictorials, I've seen a pic of a polished one mounted low & back twixt the ModelA frame horns, plumbed carefully from underneath & in back, was for a real mechanical F.I. setup on the street - guessing it was for a "surge" tank. Other thing you could do, is find a couple of Al gas bottles, like for mini-welders, or somesuch. Cut the body to the length you need & weld up the center. Gonna be heavy... Marcus...
I think what the OP is looking for is something like this @nrgwizard , it needs to contain a fair amount of pressure. Sounds like a neat idea and it will be an eye catcher, but I don’t have any suggestions for constructing one.
Hello, Look at the Amazon site under air pressure tanks. (5 gallon aluminum air tank) not gasoline or water, but air pressure. A lot of tanks are aluminum, but are for "air" only. I was looking for a small compressor tank to replace my old large circular tank. That one was taking up too much space inside of a cabinet shelf. So, I wanted one that would store air but fit inside a deep drawer in a far area, out of the way of any walkway or path. Jnaki You never said what and where your need for a spun aluminum air tank is required. So, you will get a lot of answers for a lot of different applications. The flip lid for Moon gas tanks probably will not hold back air pressure. There are plenty of "air" only tanks and perhaps the aluminum spun skin would show. The painted ones may be steel or metal of sorts. YRMV
Hey, fordors; 1st thing that came to my mind, & well, I was going to suggest a steel one, & have it aluminum-coated, but figured that was too simplistic a reply, & most are larger than 8". I was attempting to replicate a moon-styled tank, in Al, that could hold pressure. I'm guessing he wants this out front, just like the old moon tanks were usually mounted, but Idk - he never said. But the lowrider-type tanks would probably be the best solution - as they *could* modify one for him. If they will, that is another Q... The moon flip-cap could be a fake & hiding an air-nozzle to pressurize with, Idk, pissing in the wind w/o knowing what.where/why/how OP wants/needs it for. Be interesting to see what he finds. Not to mention all the suggestions... Marcus...
Personally I wouldn't trust an amateur built pressure tank unless it underwent rigorous testing. If a tank ruptures, even at relatively low pressure, It can do a lot of damage to your body. People have been badly injured by tires exploding at 35ish psi. Just my 2 cents. You could put a real pressure tank inside a real Moon tank.
OK...good ideas. I guess I'd better reply and clarify where I'm going with this idea. Yes, it's intended for the front of the car to simulate a real Moon tank. Several issues arise when trying to modify and existing air tank (Amazon, etc) in that the bung fittings are typically in the ends, the dimensions don't work, and/or they have handles and feet/legs welded to the cylinder... all of which destroy the "look". I have had the tank engineered by a real, honest to goodness, engineer. So, I know the correct materials of construction, wall thickness, etc. to hold 200 psi. I have finally found (just today) a certified welder willing to build it IF I can source the parts. Once the tank is finally built, I will hydro test it to 200 psi before ever putting it in service. There are some "stock" off the shelf stainless dish ends available, but the SS pipe is entirely too expensive to consider. The difficult problem is not the aluminum center pipe section, but rather finding the elliptical dished ends (as stated in the OP). I appreciate all the input/answers/suggestions. Keep 'em coming. You guys will really dig this setup once it gets built.
So carve up some wooden plugs, and press your own ends with a 20 ton press. Lots more hobby guys have wood lathes than guys with metal lathes.
A metal vessel pressurized to 200 psi and mounted to the front of a race car or hot rod seems like a really bad idea. Also, what would the air pressure be used for? Would you plug a hose into it and try to pump up tires or something? That small of a volume, even at high PSI, is not going to last very long for any automotive use, and certainly won't do it better than a little hand held air compressor that runs off of a drill battery.
Steve; You're on the right track, but I think you'd(well, *I* would) want to test to a much higher pressure, like say ~ 3 times the pressure you're going to utilize(aka: safety factor - & have it certified too) - in a large tank of water too. Like they test scuba tanks - which might be another source for rounded ends. Idk. Marcus...
Hydro test needs to be 1 1/2 times MOP for 4 hours . Total force is something to study in depth , before making the decision to do this build . I’m not wanting to be a wise ass to you , I just do not want to see or hear of anyone getting seriously hurt because they do not understand the dangers . This is a bomb when not correctly attacked , and tested . The only person that gets hurt more than you is your family .
I’ll measure up an auxiliary air tank I took off a Pete years back. The end has the bungs, but I’d guess it could be welded up and relocated to where you want it. I recall these to be 8-10 inches in diameter, maybe 18-24 inches long. Haven’t looked at it lately.
I think there is going to have to be some compromise here, either you spend out to get exactly what you want or you settle for something that evokes the same aesthetic but is more affordable.
I'm inquiring about scuba tanks that are out of date as a source. 200 psi is about 3X working pressure.
Thanks. I'd really like to avoid welding up bungs... I may end up buying a tank, cutting off the ends and welding them to the center pipe.
This is the air tank for the air ride. Placing an air tank inside the frame rail is bad...inside the vehicle is worse. At the end of the day, there really isn't a great place to locate one for a car's use. But... I do plan on making a nice (removeable) shield to place in front of it for road trips.
$75 bucks. Looks close, weld a moon Tri-bar cap on it, add a data plate, I prefer springs to hold it down, easily remedied. Purpose built, Aluminum, why recreate the wheel?
Wouldn't the sun heat it up to even a higher pressure ? I don't know where you're going with the idea but like was mentioned the volume it'll hold won't be much.
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