good old exploding tank question..

[smitzer]

Refering to the old exploding mustang tank when rear ended.....
my question is:

Is this a problem because the top of the tank is the trunk floor? Does it have something to do with the design of the tank? Are the new tanks made different(made not to explode)?

Not really refering to fuel cells like I see in Jegs, more just comparing them to new stock tanks.

thanks for the education
smitz

 

[meanroy]

Refering to the old exploding mustang tank when rear ended.....
my question is:

Is this a problem because the top of the tank is the trunk floor? Does it have something to do with the design of the tank? Are the new tanks made different(made not to explode)?

Not really refering to fuel cells like I see in Jegs, more just comparing them to new stock tanks.

thanks for the education
smitz

Aside from the gas tank design, the big problem is the missing barrier between the pass. compartment and the tank.

Here's a scientific paper on gas tank explosions in general. The early Mustang shows up in several places.

 

[rbohm]

the biggest problem is the filler neck design, and the second biggest problem is the fact that yes the tank is the trunk floor. the filler neck tends to seperate from the tank at the hose, and as the tank crushes down fuel is forced out of the tank and sprayed every where. there are solutions other than swapping in a fuel cell. a company called tank armor actually puts a box over the tank and around the filler neck thus creating a new trunk floor. you can also add a steel divider from a number of mustang parts suppliers to help seperate the trunk for the passenger compartments.

 

[yeloxr7]

If you think that installing one of these barriers will potentially keep burning gas out of the passenger compartment in an accident you're only about half right. THe package tray will need to be closed off as well as all the gaps around the opening between the trunk and the passenger compartment, including the roof pillars. If you feel the need to do this, the best remedy is to install one of the fuel cells that are in most parts vendors' catalogs.

 

[thehueypilot]

Refering to the old exploding mustang tank when rear ended.....
my question is:

Is this a problem because the top of the tank is the trunk floor? Does it have something to do with the design of the tank? Are the new tanks made different(made not to explode)?

Not really refering to fuel cells like I see in Jegs, more just comparing them to new stock tanks.

thanks for the education
smitz

I think you are referring to the movie industry as far as the exploding gas tank is concerned. I have never seen a car blow up on contact from a real life collision except in the movies and after a lot of pyro was added. The news shows a lot of cars blowing up because of "Hellfire" missile strikes or IUD explosions, but I don't think you need to worry unless you are going to haul unstable explosives in your trunk. Many vehicles have gas tanks in worse places. My 1976 Toyota Landcruiser FJ-40 & early Jeep has the gas tank under the passenger seat and inside the vehicle. Some pickup trucks used to mount them inside the cab behind the seat.

 

[mustangman70]

But just the slightest metal to metal spark could cause the fuel to ignite

 

[BlueMonster65]

gas tanks

My 1976 Toyota Landcruiser FJ-40 & early Jeep has the gas tank under the passenger seat and inside the vehicle. Some pickup trucks used to mount them inside the cab behind the seat.

believe it or not that is one of the safest places for the tank to be located.
most if not all new cars have the tank located under the rear seat of a passenger car. this is because it is least likely to be impacted during any accident. anyway i switched to a fuel cell mostly due to the fact i needed a return line and some decent line sizes for the procharger i'm adding. but the added safety is nice.

 

[smitzer]

thanks for the replies everyone. I too noticed that the dividers sold in the catalogs didn't address the package tray so I made my own divider that installs just aft of the package tray. (Also caulked it with some 3M stuff that says it seals in fire. I guess fire causes it to expand and fill any gaps)

I had a couple of other questions as I was thinking about other solutions. I thought about taking out the gas tank, making a trunk floor there and trying to fit a tank from another car that would hang below the new floor. Any thoughts on that? I just I hadn't thought as far as addressing the fill neck issue as brought up.

Also noticed that I might be able to attach a "top" over the existing tank and maybe rivet it on so I could remove it should I need to access the tank. only thought about this would be if fumes could build up in the small space beteen the new floor and the top of the tank. (then again the same fumes would currently be building up in my trunk)

just a couple of thoughts that I was kicking around, if you have time would like to hear your thoughts about it.

thanks,
smitz

 

[krash kendall]

Also noticed that I might be able to attach a "top" over the existing tank and maybe rivet it on so I could remove it should I need to access the tank.

If you do that you may also want to mount the tank from the bottom instead of droppin it in and resting it on its flange like it currently is. What happens is the trunk floor surrounding the tank crushes the tank and pops the top off it. Mounting it from the bottom and sheilding it from the top may send the forces down instead of up into the trunk.

 

[68rustang]

But just the slightest metal to metal spark could cause the fuel to ignite

Could? yes. Likely? not. Gasoline is not as explosive as many believe. Pour some on the driveway in a puddle, throw a lit match at it, more than likely it will not ignite. Adding gasoline to an already burning fire is a different situation Contained gasoline fumes are more dangerous than gasoline itself.

 

[mustangman70]

But dosent the tank contain quite a bit of fumes??? :dunno:

 

[krash kendall]

But dosent the tank contain quite a bit of fumes??? :dunno:

With the price of fuel nowadays, mine sure does. I can't imagine my truck without the warm yellow glow of the low fuel light.

 

[68rustang]

But dosent the tank contain quite a bit of fumes??? :dunno:

Only when empty or near empty. My point is the exploding gas tank thing is overblown by the media and people trying to make money off your fears. The gas tanks are the least of your problems if you want to make your mustang a "safe" car.

 

[smitzer]

Only when empty or near empty. My point is the exploding gas tank thing is overblown by the media and people trying to make money off your fears. The gas tanks are the least of your problems if you want to make your mustang a "safe" car.

Yeah I know what you are saying. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this issue was over-exaggerated. But I thought it wouldn't hurt to take a look at a potiential issue. Not really ready(i.e. don't have the money) to buy a fuel cell just yet, would rather find a cheaper solution.

That is a good idea Krash! I noticed on my jeep that there are a couple of straps that wrap under the tank and hold it up. Maybe I could weld in a floor and just mount a tank with straps like that to the new floor. Still not sure about the filler neck. Maybe could make a housing in the trunk around the tube to keep that area closed off.

Thanks for the ideas...and keep 'em coming!
smitz

 

[yeloxr7]

I made my own divider that installs just aft of the package tray. (Also caulked it with some 3M stuff that says it seals in fire. I guess fire causes it to expand and fill any gaps)

Does your divider seal against the quarter panels?

The 71-73 Mustangs had a full trunk floor with the tank hanging below. Accomodations could be made to mount the tank in this manner in an earlier car, and to keep from "crushing the top of the tank".....

 

[stangman16]

With the price of fuel nowadays, mine sure does. I can't imagine my truck without the warm yellow glow of the low fuel light.

Haha - i drive my '99 GT till the fuel light comes on. Looks cool reflecting off the windshield at night

 

[stangman16]

The gas tanks are the least of your problems if you want to make your mustang a "safe" car.

Yeah, I can agree with you on that to a point. I do say, however, that I'm much more scared of the steering wheel crushing my chest due to any front end collisions. Here in SA, you've got lots of people pulling infront of you/cutting you off... it's like they wish to live, no more.

 

[smitzer]

Does your divider seal against the quarter panels?

The 71-73 Mustangs had a full trunk floor with the tank hanging below. Accomodations could be made to mount the tank in this manner in an earlier car, and to keep from "crushing the top of the tank".....

yep, with caulk. the divider is aft of the package tray over to the quarters then around the wheel humps then across the bottom of the trunk where it starts to rise up toward the rear seat. The divider is made of steel and riveted into place and caulked with the 3m fire sealant. I didn't rivet or weld it to the quater panels, just caulked it. I thought it was a good idea but admit that I have never seen this stuff in action. I will try to burn some sometime soon.

With this location of divider I thought it could be a cool place to build a speaker box, between the divider and the back of the seat. That way I could have most of my trunk as well as hide any audio stuff I might buy.

Just still thinking on the subject and wondering if there was a better way to do it. Didn't know about the 71-73 tank. i will have to check them out, thanks!
smitz

 

[smitzer]

Yeah, I can agree with you on that to a point. I do say, however, that I'm much more scared of the steering wheel crushing my chest due to any front end collisions. Here in SA, you've got lots of people pulling infront of you/cutting you off... it's like they wish to live, no more.

Yeah no kidding! heard some nasty stories about non-breakaway steering columns! That is something else that I would like to look at!

Just to be clear I am not trying to make my classic mustang the safety flagship. I don't live my life in constant fear and *usually* I don't leave my house with a helmet on! Just wanted to open up some chat to a topic I have been thinking about.
smitz

 

[Blue Oval Man]

Timely post guys. Last week I pulled a wrecked 72 stang home with the intention of cutting out the trunk floor along with the tank brackets and installing it in the wife's 68. Probably won't get around to it for awhile yet, but initial measurements look good.