I've seen a few installs where the amp is mounted what looks to be the fuel tank. Since amps always have the potential to spark, isn't this a really, really unsafe idea? Maybe I"m missing something, and I hope I am because I think it's a great place for a stealth install, but just wanted to see others opinions.

 

Is your gas tank not sealed? I was trying to fit my amp in there... and it fit

My concern is/was that it would not have enough room around it to cool it down... still trying to figure out exactly what I want to do (it looks like the spare tire is about to go bye bye...)

 

Doug is correct, your gas tank is sealed. And if any gas vapor is getting in to your trunk you have bigger problems than your audio system, hell your brake lights could even ignite that.

The key is to NOT DRILL down in that area. Utilize existing bolts, or find some other way to secure your amp. You should not risk piercing your gas tank which is below this area.

If you look at my amp mount thread you'll notice I used JB WELD since I felt it wasn't save to weld in this area without removing the gas tank. My amps have been mounted for three weeks now with no problem.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=388452

 

Good point Very, very, very nice install of the amps by the way. Super clean which is what I'm going for. I have one amp to run everything active (JBL 755.6), which is 18 11/16 L x 12 5/16 W x 2 3/8 H. Think I can fit it over the gas tank and retain the spare tire? Thanks again for your help.

 

Over the gas tank, yes. Spare tire, probably not. It is simply too long of an amp. Good luck, and post some pictures when you're done, or in my case just starting.

 

from my measurements, I think the largest amps you could cram
above the gas tank (keeping the spare) would be roughly 16"x9"
if mounted with the 9" side facing out, or 14"x14", though I'm not
sure how long it would last as there would be so little room for airflow.
Either of these assumes your amp is pretty thin (certainly < 2.5")
or you remove the padding and/or top tray.
when I get a chance, I'll post pics of my boston gt-40 (14.1"x8.9"x2.2")
install.

 

If you really want to get some airflow above the amp, trim out a nice hole in the convertible tray. Just make sure to leave a little room so the top isn't sitting on the amp when it is down. I saw a pic of a JL 300/4 above the gas tank last month, for heavens sake, dont' mount your amps upside down. Amps are designed to have the heat rise off.

 

You are all correct. The gas tank is sealed, and you have 99.9% nothing to worry about.

Now, I would never do it in my car. that .001% chance that something might happen is enough for me not to do it, ESPECIALLY since there are plenty of other places to put the amp. I guess I am the most paranoid out of the bunch.

 

How do you figure that the 0.001% (nice calculations by the way) is any different than not having an amp there?

As mentioned before, there are more likely causes of an explosion due to gas leakage than the amp.

To cause an explosion the gas would have to build up a fairly substatial density amount, which would happen throughout the whole trunk. A little gas fumes seeping (sp?) just above the tank where the amp would be sitting wouldn't do anything until they were able to build up.

So if your trunk is filled with it then two things:
a) as mentioned before, a light is more likely to set it off than the amp
b) it will also be working it's way into the passenger compartment at that point and you would smell it

Seriously, the gas tank is a seperate sealed compartment in our cars just like it is in any other vehicle... furthermore the tank is further sealed within it self for safety reasons (see: Pinto).

Even more so, since the gas cap has to be closed by "at least 3 clicks" or the check engine light may come on, then if the gas tank seal was somehow lost (at the cap or anywhere else) then a code should be thrown.

You'd have to have *a lot* working against you for this to be a valid concern... and even then you wouldn't want to turn on your parking lights or hit the brakes anyway.
-Doug

 

I agree with you 200%. Just that my gut tells me not to do it. Dont know why. I guess its just OCD.