What does "Fuel tanks isolated from the driver compartment" mean?

[metermatch]

I have a 1990 Honda CRX.  I want to put a fuel tank and nitrous bottle in the back hatch

area.

(I don't want to mess with the stock fuel tank: hard to drain, can't tell condition of it,

hard to plumb, stock fuel lines go through driver compartment, etc).

I don't want to build a steel bulkhead right behind the driver seat because with the roll

cage, it will be very difficult for me.  I also don't want to block my rear vision.

My question:

Can I just build a steel box with lid in the rear hatch/spare tire area, and put the fuel

tank and nitrous bottle inside?

Any tips on how to build the box?

What thickness steel would be considered adequate?  .024?  .032?  .040?

Any other considerations I haven't thought of?

I couldn't find any relavent info when I searched.


Thanks,

Jeff

[Joe Timney]

It is considered a firewall, see 3.F...metal of .060, with .095 recommended. You can do a hinged lid.

[Glen]

fuel line thru the cockpit must be inside a steel tube past the flywheel area. Proper attachment of the box is very important, to be sure if running at Bonneville they will pick a new car apart to assure it passes the rule book. Good luck and have fun.

[NathanStewart]

No fuel lines in drivers compartment. Has to be isolated as well. Either run through tube from front to box or run outside of car.

[Stainless1]

Seal the box and lid liquid tight
 

[Steve Walters]

          "Rear Vision"   whats that?   

Steve

[Milwaukee Midget]

          "Rear Vision"   whats that?   

Steve

That's what roadster drivers see half of the time.

[Tman]

          "Rear Vision"   whats that?   

Steve

That's what roadster drivers see half of the time.

Ouch!

[Steve Walters]

After extending my lateral head supports to required new length.  I practiced bail outs with out my helmet, when I got to the salt, I couldn't even get in the car with the helmet on.  I'm glad no one made a movie of my pit crew stuffing me into the car, head first.

I made my fastest run ever, but didn't really enjoy it cause, I felt clusterphobic, and out of control.   

Steve

[kiwi belly tank]

.

 "I felt clusterphobic"


[/quote]
Oh it was definately a cluster!
  Sid.

[JoeBlystfk]

Pardon me but if they want a "firewall" like the one between the engine and driver, sealed completely, why don't they say that.
"Isolated" doesn't really convey that idea.

[NathanStewart]

It's not a firewall because a firewall is typically considered to be between the engine and the drivers compartment.  It's a good idea to treat it like a firewall though and build it as such but I think "isolated" is pretty freakin clear to mean away from and not part of. It simply and only says "isolated" because there are many ways to achieve this. One possible way is with a bulkhead that's built like a firewall. Another way is a box. Another way is to have it on the other end of the car and completely away from the drivers compartment. It's been purposely left slightly open ended so as to allow adaptation of the rule but the underlying point is the same for all cars... the fuel tank must be isolated from the drivers compartment.

[JoeBlystfk]

Fair enough. I do think rules, in general, should be specific so these questions don't arise. Open ended rules allow for interpretation.
Would you consider this fuel cell "isolated" from the driver's compartment directly in front of it, even though the panel is not completely sealed  ?

[jl222]

After extending my lateral head supports to required new length.  I practiced bail outs with out my helmet, when I got to the salt, I couldn't even get in the car with the helmet on.  I'm glad no one made a movie of my pit crew stuffing me into the car, head first.

I made my fastest run ever, but didn't really enjoy it cause, I felt clusterphobic, and out of control.   

Steve

  Yeah..I have the same problem and feeling more trapped especially after the lateral supports coming so far foward. Anyone else notice the lack of side supports on most of the cars in the Dakar race?
  Good thing the Hans makers have modified the high backs to lower styles since SCTA passed the rule and
which I made a rule change request to not have, as they were a death trap with that high back getting hooked on the roll bar on certain cars.

       JL222

             

[jl222]

 I once questioned a fuel tank in the trunk area of a record holding Camaro as I thought it was just a red fuel cell.
 But the tank was inside of a steel box with a removable plate for filling. Don't know how plate was sealed.

   JL222

  Now off to the Super Bowl party

  49ers