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my DIY Fire Suppression System

MangoSmoothie.caMangoSmoothie.ca

i have my engine out (along with pretty much everything else), so i thought it would be a good time to build my own fire supression system. 

 

Nothing too fancy, just a rechargeable chemical retardant that is triggered from the drivers seat that sprays the engine (mostly the carbs)

 

So, i went to the store and bought a nice quality metal, recharageable fire extinguisher that had a screw on nozzel. $32

 

then to the fastener shop (where i bought my air suspension fittings / lines / etc). to pick up:

 

* adapters

* a PTC (push to connect) Y

* two PTC males

* brass bulkhead fittings

* misc brass adapters

*14' of 1/4 high pressure flexible line

all this stuff: $44

 

bike cable: $4

 

bill so far: $80

 

i just came back from the garage and assembled the spray nozzels.  i used brass end caps and drilled in three 4mm holes at 30 degrees with a spread of ~80 wide.  then i chamfered the holes to get a cone-shape spray.

 

essentially, this should spray the crap out of my carbs.

 

i used the trusted blow-through it with your hand to feel the spray direction and it passed the test.

 

i am going to do a dry run once it's installed (with no engine and a tarp on the floor), so if i got the spray pattern wrong, i'll just buy new $.50 brass caps and do it again.

 

i am going to mount the fire exhtingusher under the driversdoor sill (mounted to the metal frame held on to the mount with two HD hose clamps.  oh ya - the awesome bike brake cable to activate the FE - picked one of those up too.

 

then i plan to put the pull '**** there is smoke coming from back there' handle below the rear hood release.  i am going to use some sort of quick release cotter pin to stop accidental triggers.

 

i plan to trim the FE handle so it doesnt get in the way (see the black electricians tape?)

 

anyway - PICTURES!!

 

 

 

stay tuned.   my winter list if pretty big, so i planto pick this off fairly quick.

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MangoSmoothie.caMangoSmoothie.ca

just a quick update.

 

holes drilled in firewall for bulkhead sprays

 

i also picked up another rechargeable fire extinguisher (big 6lb-er).  i'm going to test with that and then empty it and use it as another air reservoir for my air suspension

 

i am going to place an order with CIP for some more stuff, but the handle i am going to use is this one:

 


i am going to use the fire extinguisher red "cotter pin" to prevent accidental discharge.

 

Now - all i need is time.

 

(oh - no kits and not Halon).  class B/C electrical and flammable petroleum products chemical spray.  messy, yes.  effective, yes.

MangoSmoothie.caMangoSmoothie.ca

got it working!

i bought another bottle to test with (and once empty, i will use as an additional air reservoir for my suspension.

 

masked off the engine bay and deck lid (i had no idea what this would do when i pulled the trigger)

 

 

in action:


Video of it in action:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1...#5822678489659756258

i'm happy with the nozzles i made (angle / volume)

so, aside from mounting the bottle - i picked up a handle and will fab up the rest of the emergency pull.  FYI - it is very easy to squeeze the bottle.

MangoSmoothie.caMangoSmoothie.ca
Originally Posted by Cole Thompson - 2009 VIntage Speedster:

I want to see this!  However the video link says "sorry, page not found!"

 

I heard these types of fire extinguishers eat away at the engine cases, is this true?

 

I've wanted something like this and do it yourself seems reasonably easy. Thanks for the "how to."

 

Cole

 

 

hmm, my engine is a T4 and the block is pure aluminum.  i have all the extra stuff from when i empties the bottle.  i'll throw in a piece of aluminum and see for myself.  it's a very fine powder, so i would assume it would need to get wet to 'be a problem.

 

even if it does - i'd take that risk and have to hose out my whole engine bay / transmission over a melted car.

 

MangoSmoothie.caMangoSmoothie.ca

g'ah - all this time off over the holidays and i barely got any garage time. </rant>

 

mounted the extinguisher last night after cutting the lower handle and installing a spring.  i tested my cable setup a few weeks ago and noticed a bit more resistance in the cable than i was expecting, so i added a fairly weak return spring.  it's held in place by the cable.

 

i also picked up some stainless T-bolt clamps instead of the crappy ones shown in the picture. (i don't want this falling off)

 

MangoSmoothie.caMangoSmoothie.ca

ok - i'm finally done this sub project.

 

here is an update with pictures.

 

replaced the hose clamps with the $6 ones

 

tapped the release handle with some metric thread and lock-tighted the bolt on (after i cut the head off of the 50mm bolt and drilled a small hole in the end)

 

sanded and prepped for paint.  painted three times with vintage ivory (yayyy i love the chemical bubbling reaction from the two kinds of paint.  i was clear coating the handle and then i looked at what kind of paint it was.  d'oh.  start over.  good thing i have 4877 projects on the go and i don't have to wait for wet paint.)

 

here it is being test fit along with the sleeve.  i wanted a tight fit/look.  i'll see if i can grab a shot of it done.  looks purdy all painted with safety pin.

 

 

anyway...

 

drilled the threaded bolt (sans head) and sleeve for safely pin.  fancy dipped-in-a-can-of-red-paint-red (fitting colour name):

 

the fabbed up three different adjustable cable setups.  this is the one i went with.  simple. strong and adjustable.

 

FYI - i drilled out the middle of an allan head bolt and threaded a piece of metal i had laying around. 

 

simple cable crimp-thingy to hold it tight, and done.

 

that's it.

 

here it is after cable tension adjustment

 

hopefully i never have to use it, but if i do, i know it works.

 

 

painted that nice gloss red

 

Last edited by MangoSmoothie.ca
MangoSmoothie.caMangoSmoothie.ca
Originally Posted by oliver365:

  i wish Dave! roofs on hold while I sort out other stuff at mo , air ride front struts r playing up & now rebuilding eberspacher to fit in car for this lovely Brit weather  ! anyway I think Mango will make his own top 

ahhh - i took that hook, line and sinker.

 

air struts?

 

next on my todo list is removing my front beam and making an airbeam.

 

i'd love to share ideas with you.  what sort of strut setup are you planning?

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