Fire extinguisher in my S

[GI]

Afternoon chaps. I saw the pic in this ad and it brought my idea about putting a fire extinguisher into my V8S to the fore somewhat. I don't want to go to the expense of a Firetrace just yet and the rollbar-mounted bottle seems a tidy and accessible solution.

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=34903&s=4

Does anyone have anything similar?

I've emailed the owner, but does anyone have any idea how it is attached the rollbar and how the bottle is released in a hurry?

Thanks for your help.


-
Graham
"Dorset Blokes Do It In Their Wellies"

[KentishS2]

Graham,

Bloody good idea considering this: - www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=151201&f=11&h=0

I always used to keep one my 2 other GRP bodied cars (a few yrs ago).

I think I'll be adding one very soon.

[GI]

Yep, that post kind of jogged my memory a bit too.

I remember seeing a pic in a mid 90's TVRCC Sprint of a destroyed Griffith and thought to myself, "yep, a fire extinguisher would have come in handy there".

I'd hate to see my P&J go the same way.

[GreenV8S]

Personally I prefer them under the driver's knees because it's much easier to get at them. I reckon the only time you need access to them you will either be moving at speed, or have stopped ang got out of the car. So you need to be able to get at them from the driver's seat without dislocating your shoulder, and from outside the car without getting in.

[GI]

Good point. That's a very good point. Unless you have the roof off. And it is shaming that I have not yet driven it stripped to the waist (so to speak).

But there seems so little space in the footwells as it is and getting in can be like trying to return to the womb (sorry for that imagery). Where exactly do you mean?

[KentishS2]

Not much space around my knees but the footwell has a cubby hole both driver and passenger side where the rear of the side repeater can be accessed, I probably lay one in there on each side. Easy to get to whilst inside or outside of the car.

[shmern]

I have one in my S2 currently (I'll move it over to the V8s soon) but it's in the same place as the one in the Ad (just not on a roll bar), i.e. rear panel behind the passenger seat.

I DID try reaching for it from the drivers seat to make sure I could get it without hurting myself and found I could ok, YMMV as I have long arms

I found it comforting to have a Fire Extinguisher to hand when doing track days !

As for pulling it out of the holder, mine just pops out with a bit of force OK. I was glad it took a good bit of force actually, as I don't want it flying out if I hit the brakes or (heaven forbid) hit a wall or something.

Shmern

>> Edited by shmern on Monday 24th January 16:59

[GI]

Yes, I would only put an extinguisher in the car if it was safe in the event of an accident. The one in that car in the advert looks securely held, but I can't make out just how. I'd rather let the car burn than be knocked unconcious and then be engulfed in flames and burn to death. The latter would be too ironic.

[GreenV8S]

GI said:

Where exactly do you mean?

Sideways bolted to the floor directly in front of the driver's seat. If you manage to stand on it there then you must have an extra set of knees or something!

Make sure the extinguisher is positively located in the holder by an over-center strap, the simple push-in sprung arrangement used on some cheaper extinguishers is simply not adequate IMO. Personally I would not be prepared to get in a car with the extinguisher spring mounted behind the driver, it is downright dangerous IMO.

[GI]

I see. I have to have the seat right forward to reach the pedals, and I usually run it right back to get out of the car so it could be an obstacle.

But I believe safety is more important.

Two further questions:

(1) Is this a job for a specialist installer, given that bolting through the chassis is required?

(2) What powder or gas is best to cover both engine and electrical fires, and also the fibreglass if that goes up?


Any help much appreciated.

[GreenV8S]

Mounting into the fiberglass floor with a penny washer to spread the load is fine - that is how the seats are mounted ! (it is NOT fine for the seats, but that's another story...).

The recommended extinguisher is AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) which is basically a water foam.

[GI]

You seem to be the S-series Oracle.

Actually, I remember reading your sprinting and tech articles in TVRCC Sprint from the mid 90s. How come that kind of thing isn't in Sprint anymore? A lot more interesting than tales of pub banter.

According to an old invoice, a previous owner had the seat runners bolted to the chassis by RT Racing or Tower View. How are they normally fixed to the car?

Thanks for the info.

[GreenV8S]

GI said:

How are they normally fixed to the car?

Barely!

The seat brace bars are highly recomended for motorsport and a sensible precaution in any case.

[doddze]

I have pictures but Fotango is playing up....... YHM GI.


hopefully post tomorrow

[UKbob]

GI said:

You seem to be the S-series Oracle.

[yoda]Very wise is peter The dark side of the force uses he! Beware the extinguisher, for once you start down the AFFF path, forever will its propensity enflame you.[/yoda]

[kenobi-bob]Even I called peter yoda once, as I recall[/bob]

ukbob said:

If Podie had a dark side, it would be like Vader meets Rick Morranis (from honey I sold the kids) He would use the force to prevent people from finding out where he 'works' and carry an Austec-tuned light sabre which popped and banged so much he'd be indesctuctable. Obi-Wan-V8smith would be his Rival, trained by the illustruous pod racer 'Yoda-Green'V8S, friend of Pies-The-Hut who employed bounty hunter Harry.W.Fett and his highly tuned S-wing (with hyperdrive mod etc) to kidnap R2wildfire and retrieve the necessary mini-map data to blow up a nearby civilisation called kentishV6...

[doddze]

here is mine fitted in passenger footwell





Easy to fit and easy to get to!

[TVRDAVE]

I have had 2 fire extinguishers in my S2. I mounted them under the glove box on the passenger side. It is easy to reach and I put a Velcro strap for quick release. It works well. I know it dose because the reason I have had 2 is the first I used on a 1970 Dodge Charger who was having an engine fire. He bought me the nice chrome one to replace the red one that put out his fire. The only person that has hit my fire extinguisher, where it is mounted and he only did it once was my 6' 2" son while getting in one time.