Fire Extinguishers in Speedsters?

Probably a matter of preference, but just wanted to hear some of you old pros speak to the wisdom of carrying a fire extinguisher. I have notice a few guys doing it in photos, and thought that to be a good idea. When I was much younger and working as a volunteer firefighter in my rural county, there were a few code 3 calls for auto fires over the course of a couple years, and every single one of those fires were VW's (totally involving the engine compartment)!! The magnesium dripping down was so hot it would burn holes in asphalt!Something about gas lines coming off I think. That was 30 years ago. Comments appreciated.

I have one in my speedy and when I was still aircooled, I was thinking of running a supression system in the engine bay. The main issue with the speedy's is that majority of the time, the gas lines are old as well as old fibre style pipes that are being used.

High pressure ful lines and also having hard lines as much as possible reduces the chances of a fire.

I have a bottle inside, but I really wanted an underhood system that was automatic. If there is engine fire, by the time I realize it and react a lot of damage will have already occurred. In addition, opening the back would introduce a blast of oxygen. It took me awhile to find what I wanted. I now have what IM uses. https://www.speedsterowners.com/forum/readmsg.asp?t=21686

It's cheap insurance Steve and could also help someone else who may have a fire. Mine is mounted up under the dash on the passenger side of my car and is out of the way and almost out of sight.

I took a different approach than Troy, stemming from decades ago when I used to race, seriously.

My extinguisher is mounted between the seats, just aft of the emergency brake handle.

It has a decent mount/strap to keep it in place (with no rattles) but I can get to it in a second or two, tops.

Remember that you're riding around in a flammable egg shell. Once fire reaches the body, you've maybe got 15 seconds to save it.

And get a HALON extinguisher---I learned about these when I had airplanes and they won't wreck the materials it touches when used like the "standard" ones will. Do a search here about Halon extinguishers to learn about them. About twice the cost but well worth it. After the fire is out you still have usable parts.

A flammable egg shell? Are you trying to scare me or something? :) Now I feel like a rolling pinless grenade, or a molitoff cocktail! I better update my will.

i had a small fire in mine and used extinguisher. a wire from the alternator chafed where it went through sheet metal to starter and ignited something. caught it quick and little damage.

Picture is worth a 1000 words! NOT mine than goodness. Who ordered theirs well done?

This makes me want to cry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYMZfqFwh2A&feature=youtube_gdata_player

wolgang. looks like to postercar for rustytubs

That was not an enjoyable video. My next addition to my speedster is going to be a halon fire suppression system.

Steve:

Find Ron O'Black's photo album on here and wander through it. He sold his car to another and it caught fire and was pretty charred. He bought it back and IM rebuilt it for him.

The before and after pictures are amazing.

I did a little more digging, not being real excited about spending $500 on a tube of Halon with a heat sensitive nipple on each end, and found some considerable and thoughtful discussion about fire suppression within the world of RV enthusiast, where typically a persons investment is much higher. There were some good points made about the drawbacks of halon in a non sealed compartment, as well as chemical powders being highly corrosive. Also discussion about a product called "cold fire" which is not a powder, or a gas, but more like a non corrosive aqueous film. Its worth the few minutes it takes to read.

http://www.rvcruzer.com/firesystem.php

Cool. Natale has heat sensitive nipples :-)

I just have my car insured for new-car replacement value and don't worry about it. I still have a halon extinguisher, but if it burns, it burns. I know that I don't want to burn with it. If I were worried that much about losing the car, I would go with the full Magilla and get a complete fire suppression system installed.

I have replacement value as well, but it amounts to 90-something % of what I paid for the car. To replace it I would make up that difference plus repay the sales tax, and that would amount to a few grand. For about a $150 for a 2 liter SST cannister and a bottle of juice good for 2 refills this "coldfire" product would snuff out a fire, assuming I could catch it quick enough, and not barage the whole engine compartment with corrossive powder. Halon, or the halon replacements are clean too but theoretically you could have a fire, have the halon dispensed automatically , be driving down the road and still not be aware of all that just happened back there. Since the compartment is not closed, the halon would dissapate quickly, the source of fuel still present along with heat, and you may have reignition. There is no easy solution without spending bookoo bucks, but this sound cost effective for me. Also to refill the bottle you only need a compressor, the juice and some water.. DIY!
Tom, I would recommend a bottle of this stuff on your night stand in case you and your Mrs's have a problem with her nip's :)

Steven, Natale is the name of Tom's car, not his wife.

i choose not to post a male mammalian response to this as i have a little class, very little.

Wait, Speedsters have bras AND nipples? There's so much for a newbie to learn.

Is that why everyone prefers the clear bras?

You're a quick study, Mitch ;-)

Well played, Sir!

I carry one behind my seat.

A bra?

Decided to go with the 2.5 lb "Cleanguard" made by Ansul, which uses Dupont FE36 instead of Halon or Halotron.. $140 + tax... no shipping (because I am picking up at the local fire equipment store). Made to order so it will have a fresh date on it. Takes 2 weeks to get from Wisconsin. Comes with a vehicle bracket. Its an expensive "peace of mind" but rather have it than not.Competetive with anything else of like nature.