firewalls - Drifting forum

scrutineer · 08-12-2006, 00:49

i have had a few questions about firewalls

for the front, the standard bulkhead between the engine and the passenger compartment is good enough..... if all holes in it are filled in -
make sure wires through it are in grommets

if you remove anything that leaves a hole inthe bulkhead it needs to be filled with ali,fibreglass, fireproof mastic etc

The easiest way to check is to have a strong light one side of the bulkhead and look at it from the othe side.... if you can see any light then the hole needs filling

for the boot - if the boot is empty - no fuel tanks, swirl pots, fuel pumps,nitrous then a firewall is not needed. If the boot has anything like that in it then you need a firewall between the boot and the passenger compartment

as with any of the regs if your not sure ask here,pm me or email me

MJG · 07-02-2007, 20:34

I will probably be having the filler neck of my fuel tank, and the fuel pumps, as well as the battery in the boot. This is more concerned with eurodrift but I want to comply to your specs if possible.

Am I alright to just rivet in a sheet of aluminium over front of rear archs, and back to under the rear window? Making sure no holes apart from for battery cable (with grommet)? This should be as good a firewall as the car's floor ever was!

sideways.taff · 07-02-2007, 20:56

Seal it too Mike

MJG · 07-02-2007, 21:16

What with Bryn? Silicone or something? Or something specific?

sideways.taff · 07-02-2007, 21:28

I cant remember what stuff we used to use at university to seal the firewalls on the forumla student race car. I'm sure someone will know! I need to know and I can't for the life of me remember what it was called.

sideways.taff · 07-02-2007, 21:35

Right, just been doing some digging. I think (emphasise on think) that it was polyurethene sealant and that's the same sort of stuff you'd have as seam sealer irc.

MJG · 07-02-2007, 21:44

OK, why was it a specific sort? Heat resistance? To be fair I'm sure nobody would know what sealant I used as long as it did the job haha. The plate is going to be pretty flush with everything anyway.

gaz_moose · 07-02-2007, 21:48

look in the msa blue book young sir.do everything to fia regs.

MJG · 07-02-2007, 21:53

I don't have a blue book. I will read yours

gaz_moose · 07-02-2007, 22:00

it says you have to use fire proof spastic sealant all of ze way round.

scrutineer · 07-02-2007, 23:49

screwfix may be your friend: product number 20830 firestop 400 intumescent acrylic sealer £4.59 a tube.

or product number 20981 is a fire rated expanding foam

there are other similar products available but ordinary mastic can burn very well

or fibreglass seals it well

MJG · 09-02-2007, 13:13

Thanks guys, cheers scrutineer dude

DriftLexus · 09-02-2007, 21:20

surprised your suggesting fibreglass as a means of sealing a bulkhead as its very flammable,
or should i say the resins are that bond the fibres

rallyman1978 · 09-02-2007, 21:29

I've used fireproof expanding foam before on a mk2 escort

Good results but gets everywhere and is a fucker to get off clothing and hands

scrutineer · 10-02-2007, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriftLexus

surprised your suggesting fibreglass as a means of sealing a bulkhead as its very flammable,
or should i say the resins are that bond the fibres

interesting point - i was under the impression that when cured, it did not burn easily-certainly not as easily lit as many of the cured mastics and better than an open hole.
marc

Alex B · 10-02-2007, 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrutineer

interesting point - i was under the impression that when cured, it did not burn easily-certainly not as easily lit as many of the cured mastics and better than an open hole.
marc

Doesn't catch easily, (as in you couldn't light it with a match/lighteer etc), but burns very well when it does go and gets extremely hot.

Alex B

MJG · 12-02-2007, 13:18

Fibreglass it is then, burn myself then SUE!! Hahaha only joking.

I'll try and find one of the screwfix things you first recommended marc

scrutineer · 13-02-2007, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJG

Fibreglass it is then, burn myself then SUE!! Hahaha only joking.

I'll try and find one of the screwfix things you first recommended marc

Hmmmmm .............its so nice when this years troublemaker identifies himself before the first event

at least now i know who to persecute........

new rule 17-8: the scrutineer will pick one car each event and have it stripped down to a bare shell to make sure the paint is of the required thickness.If the scrutineer desires this can be the same car every event - maybe each day!

at the risk of taking this too seriously

the idea is that if you have a fire or fuel leak etc the flames/fuel will not easily/quickly get to the driver.
It is assumed that the driver will notice the sheets of fire coming out of the boot and stop ..... exiting the car rapidly and leaving a brown mist of adrenaline.
It is not anticipated that the driver finishes the run if this happens.
Therefore a product that will not light easily but is a very effective seal can be appropriate for firewall use .........

MJG · 13-02-2007, 10:43

Hahaha, yeah I was pulling your leg. I cannot see myself entering any events anyway but the regulations are a good guide, just like a lot of people really

Also, just checking, is it OK to have a fuel tank/pump in the boot, with a battery also? They would both be secured and at least 12" away from eachother, and firewalled off as above, but is that OK or would the battery need to be in a box or something?

08-12-2006, 00:49	#1 (permalink)
scrutineer spl dori master Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sussex Posts: 261	firewalls i have had a few questions about firewalls for the front, the standard bulkhead between the engine and the passenger compartment is good enough..... if all holes in it are filled in - make sure wires through it are in grommets if you remove anything that leaves a hole inthe bulkhead it needs to be filled with ali,fibreglass, fireproof mastic etc The easiest way to check is to have a strong light one side of the bulkhead and look at it from the othe side.... if you can see any light then the hole needs filling for the boot - if the boot is empty - no fuel tanks, swirl pots, fuel pumps,nitrous then a firewall is not needed. If the boot has anything like that in it then you need a firewall between the boot and the passenger compartment as with any of the regs if your not sure ask here,pm me or email me

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07-02-2007, 20:34	#2 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,947	I will probably be having the filler neck of my fuel tank, and the fuel pumps, as well as the battery in the boot. This is more concerned with eurodrift but I want to comply to your specs if possible. Am I alright to just rivet in a sheet of aluminium over front of rear archs, and back to under the rear window? Making sure no holes apart from for battery cable (with grommet)? This should be as good a firewall as the car's floor ever was!

07-02-2007, 20:56	#3 (permalink)
sideways.taff -NightWalkers- Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Wales Posts: 5,518	Seal it too Mike

07-02-2007, 21:16	#4 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,947	What with Bryn? Silicone or something? Or something specific?

07-02-2007, 21:28	#5 (permalink)
sideways.taff -NightWalkers- Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Wales Posts: 5,518	I cant remember what stuff we used to use at university to seal the firewalls on the forumla student race car. I'm sure someone will know! I need to know and I can't for the life of me remember what it was called.

07-02-2007, 21:35	#6 (permalink)
sideways.taff -NightWalkers- Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Wales Posts: 5,518	Right, just been doing some digging. I think (emphasise on think) that it was polyurethene sealant and that's the same sort of stuff you'd have as seam sealer irc.

07-02-2007, 21:44	#7 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,947	OK, why was it a specific sort? Heat resistance? To be fair I'm sure nobody would know what sealant I used as long as it did the job haha. The plate is going to be pretty flush with everything anyway.

07-02-2007, 21:48	#8 (permalink)
gaz_moose .MTM. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: under your bed Posts: 3,294	look in the msa blue book young sir.do everything to fia regs.

07-02-2007, 21:53	#9 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,947	I don't have a blue book. I will read yours

07-02-2007, 22:00	#10 (permalink)
gaz_moose .MTM. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: under your bed Posts: 3,294	it says you have to use fire proof spastic sealant all of ze way round.

07-02-2007, 23:49	#11 (permalink)
scrutineer spl dori master Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sussex Posts: 261	screwfix may be your friend: product number 20830 firestop 400 intumescent acrylic sealer £4.59 a tube. or product number 20981 is a fire rated expanding foam there are other similar products available but ordinary mastic can burn very well or fibreglass seals it well

09-02-2007, 13:13	#12 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,947	Thanks guys, cheers scrutineer dude

09-02-2007, 21:20	#13 (permalink)
DriftLexus BDC Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Germany....Now! Posts: 3,422	surprised your suggesting fibreglass as a means of sealing a bulkhead as its very flammable, or should i say the resins are that bond the fibres

09-02-2007, 21:29	#14 (permalink)
rallyman1978 hachiroku Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Worcester Posts: 958	I've used fireproof expanding foam before on a mk2 escort Good results but gets everywhere and is a fucker to get off clothing and hands

12-02-2007, 13:18	#17 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,947	Fibreglass it is then, burn myself then SUE!! Hahaha only joking. I'll try and find one of the screwfix things you first recommended marc

13-02-2007, 10:43	#19 (permalink)
MJG e30 of Death Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Derby, England Posts: 11,947	Hahaha, yeah I was pulling your leg. I cannot see myself entering any events anyway but the regulations are a good guide, just like a lot of people really Also, just checking, is it OK to have a fuel tank/pump in the boot, with a battery also? They would both be secured and at least 12" away from eachother, and firewalled off as above, but is that OK or would the battery need to be in a box or something?