Fire suppression system install

While I wait for the my DMV VIN inspection, I've decided to knock out a few projects:

1) Added fog lights
2) Adding a starter button. Picked up a Jag/Healey starter button. Looks pretty cool. Hoping to install this weekend
3) Changed steering wheel from a Nardi to Banjo
4) Install a fire suppression system. I have a 5lb Safecraft system that I bought for a different car & never used. Has anyone installed one in a speedie. I see there was some discussion previously on the subject. Not sure if anyone has done the install. Any ideas where to mount the tank (trunk, passenger footwell,??) How about nozzle locations. I'm figuring one at each carb. Should I install one in the cockpit under the dash or is that overkill?

Do you still ahve your Nardi? If so, I may be interested. Post some pics of the work you did!

Yes, I have the Nardi wheel & I'll also have the matching shift knob available too once I have the new vintage shifter. Should be sometime next week - looks like the shifter is getting on plane today from Taiwan. I'll have to check the diameter of the steering wheel.

I'll post some pics this weekend.

A fire suppression system is a very good idea!

That photo makes me feel ill. I'm hoping to install this system into my car:

http://www.vwheritage.com/ssp/Fire-Extinguishers/?srchPart=AC999E0540

It has a trace tube that activates the extinguisher at any point where fire is found.

My Alan Merklin built speedy has a fire supression system mounted in the trunk with the activation knob mounted under the dash left of the steering column. The hose from the bottle is plumbed back to the engine compartment with a T-connection to release at both sides of the engine.

Educational-I learned what a "trace tube" is.
http://www.firetrace.com/automobile-and-car-fire-suppression.html

I'm not sure if my bottle will fit where you have it mounted, Sly. I may be able to fit it in front of the tank. Do you have a nozzle under the dash too or just a set in the engine bay?

I don't think an alarm is needed with that trace tube system. I'm pretty sure you'll know when that thing goes off.

No nozzle under the dash, Jeff. I do carry a slimline "tundra" ABC rated handheld extinquisher behind the passenger seat as a backup.

Jeff,

Check with Henry at Intermeccanica. They have a self contained unit that mounts in the engine bay on the firewall. It activates automaticly depending on temprature. It has two nozzles that spray Halon directly towards the carbs. It will knock down a fire before you even know it is happening. I think they are about $400 each.

They are the coolest thing I have seen.

Syl, you can easily add a tee to the dash in line I installed. ~Alan

I mounted a 5 lb. Safecraft system in my Spyder. The bottle is in front of the RF wheel in the trunk. Three nozzles: one to each carb and one to the dash underside. I have a gas heater there, so I felt a little prevention is a good thing. If luck is on my side, I'll never need to use it!!

Just remember, pull over and stop, then take a deep breath. Then and only then pull the cable!! GET THE HELL OUT! Halon displaces oxygen, and it could kill you, especially in an enclosed space.

I agree with Dr Evil - halon is pretty nasty stuff, there are plenty of other systems you can install that don't use it and have similar fire fighting properties - yes they may affect wiring but they'll save your car and won't damage you in the process.

Daniel & JJ.

OK so you don't want to use the best. Think about it. To put a fire out you need to either:

1. Remove the fuel
2. Remove the heat (cool flames)
3. Remove the oxygen

#3 will not work on mag because if it is burning it creates it's own oxygen.

Our cars are used outside where there is plenty of oxygen for us to breathe. If your motoring down the road or the motor is running say at an intersection and you have an engine fire before you know it is happening and even have time to grab the bottle or hit the lever your screwed. If you have something like I suggested that self deploys if fire is present and it removed the oxygen in the engine compartment how can that be a bad thing.

I need to double check as well because "Halon 1301" was banned in 1993 and most systems use it's replacement. I will get some pictures from Henry.

FIRE is a bad thing........;-(

The Halon replacement is Halotron.

Question: Is it possible to convert a standard fire extinguisher into an installed system? If so, is there a kit available?

Thanks Terry.....Halotron! The extingushiers that Fred was getting were Halotron as well. Everyone was bummed that they were bigger in size to have the same knock down as the Halon.

I'm 99 44/100% sure the automatic deploying one Henry sells is a Halotron unit but I will double check.

Regarding your question as I recall from the old race car days the bottles we used were the same as a portable unit they just had a different head and trigger usually a pull the pin and push down to activate knob so you could plumb the system with nozzles where needed. It also had to be where a corner worker could fire the bottle if necessary.

FIRE is a VERY bad thing.......

I installed a bottle within easy reach, just for my passenger and myself.
I like fire if I'm at work, but not in my car!

I just stay close to water...

OK Henry said he can get the automatic fire system in either Halon or the non-cfc Canadian legal stuff.

Here are a few pics installed on a IM-6.

looks like you can piece together a system

It's no different than air suspension:

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/advcat.asp?CategoryID=FIREPARTS

i might pop into the local fastener specialist to look at some of this stuff.

Smoothie, maybe it can be combo air suspension/fire prevention system :-)

double post.

I put a safecraft remote sytem in my car . I have three nozzles - one near the fuel tank, one under the dash and one in the engine compartment. The one under the dash is for electric fires and to give the driver /pass. time to egress. Cory being a fireman can relate to that . All my fuel lines in the engine compartment are hard lined.

Mango Man,
I think I'll wait for you to do the R&D and then I'll follow your lead.

dang - now you guys have me thinking...

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Bd5WKO-ALJMJ:www.fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fire07/PDF/f07010.pdf+automotive+fire+suppression+system+design&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShvuzJgsOKWf0cMg3g-49x-JU6EMQ5ECQcWwcGJpItup_x5Vo5ELkpCy3JMeIZSMX8tdh5QK3A-GZwz6DwOvb_wptVCtZrxMFlN5l95R0hZ0VQPspgZ4QjyT5gvCEn190LBbO67&sig=AHIEtbT8GvkfSPWrojk0AvHfykBK8fYsHQ

see ~page 44

i was at a local Porsche track day last fall and took a close up look at an aerial atom suppression system. it was super basic, using PTC (push to connect) fittings like most air rides, and a big pull trigger. really nothing to this stuff and I'm amazed at how much they cost(!) (

the hardest part is to get a fire extinguisher that has a threaded female to install a PTC fitting into - and i can't imagine a quality extinguisher would be more than $50. lines / fittings, etc could easily be has for under $100.

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=automotive+fire+suppression+system+design&meta=&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3972373.pdf

The systems out there obviously went through some engineering and extensive testing to prove their peformance in fire surpression. I guess paying $300 to $500 is a wise investment to protect or save a car with a value $15000 and up. Of course we cannot forget protecting one self. I never would of considered installing a home built system in any of the race cars or hydroplanes we racer in the past. Plus the homebuilt system would not be an approved SFI system. So you'll need to ask yourself..... will it work when I really need it? Is it worth the chance?

Joe, that looks like the same system I have. Looks like you ran braided stainless lines instead of the hard aluminum lines, correct?

I ran the hard lines which are hidden. The braided hose you see in the upper part of the photo is my gas tank vent hose.