'66 Nova Update

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by novanutcase

I'm going to incorporate a Safecraft fire suppression system in the car and I'm trying to decide whether I should go with 2 5 lb bottles and seperate them. One for the engine compartment and one for the passenger compartment or if I should just get a 10 lb bottle and plumb them into both compartments? Push/Pull knob for activation or auto-temp sensing heads? FE-36 or Halon? I'm thinking auto-temp for engine compartment and push/pull for passenger compartment

John

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John,

I can give you some advice from personal experience. I was involved in a fire when I raced stock cars. A right side ball joint broke while I was leading the race. I hit the wall in turn one at about 80+. The impact broke the right front wheel off which in turn pulled the braided fuel line out of the fuel pump. As the car slid along the wall it pulled the wheel back through the car ripping the oil cooler off and tearing the body off the passenger side. Now the interesting part. Because the engine continued to run until the bowl was empty, it kept pumping gas and oil all over the headers. It created an inferno instantly. Since the body work including the firewall was torn open the fire tunneled straight into the cockpit. Luckily I had a Halon system in the car. It was a 5# bottle plumbed to cover me from head to toe. I hit the button and the fire was instantly out. (didn't have temp. triggers at the time) I climbed out of the car before it stopped rolling and without taking the window net down. Thats right the net was melted out of the window. That's how quick it gets really hot. I also had a triple layer fire suit, double layer gloves and nomex shoes. I did get some 2nd degree burns on my face because I had my visor cracked. It was about 90 degrees that night. I can say that the Halon system save my life. I have no experience with FE-36, but Halon does work very well. As for triggering, put the temp. sensing in the cockpit along with a push/pull. If I would have been knocked out, I might be dead. If you want something on the engine, make it seperate. When you set Halon off you can't breathe, that wouldn't be fun if you just have an engine fire. I'm not sure if the temp. trigger would be good under the hood depending on the trigger temp. I'm thinking push pull would do it. Anyway, sorry for the book but I am a firm believer in this equipment to say the least. Hopefully this helps.

Later,