stock fuel tank, are they safe?

67gt390 · Feb 9, 2006

I am finishing up a long resto project and am considering a fuel cell. I would only do so for safety. Is there anything I can do to reduce the risk without going to this extreme? The concern is being rearended and gasoline entering the passenger area.

gonzothegreat · Feb 9, 2006

I've seen that steel plate you place behind the passenger seat, it's an option

Red5oh · Feb 9, 2006

I have the steel plate behind the back seat. You can see it on my cardomain site. I am also considering the on that is for the package tray as well. They have one with the 6x9 cutouts in it. I figured I could add some boxes around the speakers to seal them off as well.

Sicarius428 · Feb 9, 2006

Well in the case of getting rear ended, you are better off with a fuel cell. The stock fuel tank is inches from the rear bumper which doesn't absorb that much to begin with. The steel plate is really nice for helping prevent fuel splashing up into the trunk/cab in case of a rupture but from a safety standpoint the fuel cell is the way to go.
Kevin

67GTA-FB429 · Feb 9, 2006

In 40 years...how many older Mustang fires have you heard of or read about. These are Mustangs not Pinto wagons.....

The chances of an explosion (IMO) are next to nothing. You will probably end up with a broken neck from whiplash before being burned alive.

Jester67 · Feb 9, 2006

I agree they are as safe as anything on these old cars if you wont a truly safe car get a Volvo. These cars have NO crumple zones NO side impact supports, NO airbags, No shoulder belts unless you add them, 67 and below have no collapsible steering columns and depending on the build of the 67 it might have a one-piece rod from the steering wheel and the box. Safe sure after all living is the leading cause of death. But if you must do something and a fuel cell is out of the budget there is a thing called tank armor that looks like a cheaper alternative.

rbohm · Feb 9, 2006

my plans are for going with something like tank armor, a steel rear seat divider, seal the openings in the package tray, including sealed boxes for the speaker, and hope that some idiot doesnt hit me while he is going 50mph, and i am stopped.

LMan · Feb 9, 2006

DEADLY, they are....and yet, somehow, millions of them survived all this time....

Edbert · Feb 9, 2006

I prefer the plate that covers the tank rather than the one behind the seat.

rbohm · Feb 9, 2006

Edbert said:
I prefer the plate that covers the tank rather than the one behind the seat.

i do recommend layering your defenses in this case. run both.

65ShelbyClone · Feb 10, 2006

I would get a cell if I could afford it, tank armor if not, and the protector plates last(or maybe anyway).

I'm sure we've all seen those shows where someone gets 90% of their skin burned off and afterward looks like pizza with the cheese peeled off, right? If that happened to me, I'd pay off some sympathetic nurse or doctor to get me a crapload of morphine and a syringe.

Hack · Feb 10, 2006

LMan said:
DEADLY, they are....and yet, somehow, millions of them survived all this time....

Well said.

I think that you have to do what makes you happy. Accidents can happen, and people do get hurt and killed in traffic every day. There's no denying it.

A Mustang and a Pinto both have very little metal protecting the gas tank. Similar to those Chevy pickups with the side tanks outside the frame rails. Remember the scandal where a TV program was trying to prove how dangerous those tanks were and they had to use a sparkler to get the tank to explode?

I parted out an '85 GT last summer. One of the last things I decided to do was cut out the trans tunnel. I thought it might help me when I get around to putting a modern manual trans in my '70 vert. So I'm cutting away and I very foolishly didn't check what was on the underside of the tunnel. I was using a 10 inch grinder with sparks flying everywhere and I accidentally cut right through both fuel lines!!! Wow, when I saw that...

What a dumbass I can be!!

But luckily nothing happened. Not that I advocate doing anything like that, but it goes to show that gasoline isn't flamable. Just kidding. I don't know what it tells you, other than just because you get in an accident doesn't mean the gas tank will explode.

I don't think anyone here would criticize you for trying to make your car more safe, though. Good luck.

67GTA-FB429 · Feb 10, 2006

Hack said:
....... but it goes to show that gasoline isn't flamable. Just kidding. I don't know what it tells you, other than just because you get in an accident doesn't mean the gas tank will explode......

Gasoline is not flammable, the fumes from gasoline are.

Gotta do what makes you feel good and safe. Personally, I am more worried about the fuel lines that cross exhaust pipes, the fuel pumps and rubber lines that are mounted near the engine...all heat sources and in my opinion a higher risk than an exploding gas tank.

rsev216 · Feb 10, 2006

If you can afford it, a fuel cell is best. I went with the Tank Armor.

Tank Armor is available at: Antioch Mustang Stable
9701 E. McKellips Rd.
Mesa, AZ 85207
(480) 357-1006
www.tankarmor.com

Tim65GT · Feb 10, 2006

Originally posted by Hack:

A Mustang and a Pinto both have very little metal protecting the gas tank. Similar to those Chevy pickups with the side tanks outside the frame rails.

Early 60's Chevy IIs (Nova) also had drop in tanks similar to Pinto/Mustang.

yeloxr7 · Feb 10, 2006

The Pinto did not have a drop-in fuel tank like the early Mustangs and other 60's Ford cars. It was held up under the car by straps. The problem with Pinto fuel tanks (sedans and hatchbacks only) was the possibility of being punctured by a bolt or stud on the rear axle in a rear-end collision. The factory "fix" for this was to install a plastic shield on the front of the tank.

Sicarius428 · Feb 10, 2006

hrm... reminds me of my 5.0... oh great. haha
Kevin

19stang66 · Feb 10, 2006

for $200 i think i would make my own tank armor

dawtips · Feb 10, 2006

I got Tank Armor, mainly because I never felt safe from stuff INSIDE the trunk.

concreteman · Feb 11, 2006

I agree with dawtips, I was more worried about stuff on top of the tank puncturing it, yeah have had the car for over 20 years with no problems, but with moving the battery to the trunk and other trunk upgrades I plan on I wanted the piece of mind that tank armor gives, plus I won't mind the extra weight over the rearend when its all done.

stock fuel tank, are they safe?

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