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Author
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Topic: How Safe is the 67-68 Gas Tank?
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Ralph Rebandt
Gearhead Posts: 517
From: Farmington Hills, MI
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 12:50 PM
   
Fellas, a friend of mine said that he saw a special on Mustangs and that my year Stang is dangerous and has blown up upon being rearended. Any of you know the validity of this? If so what can be done to protect myself and family besides looking in the rear view mirror?
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 9476
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 12:55 PM
You can add a steel "firewall" behind the back seat to seperate you from the tank in the trunk. Or, the best way is to install a fuel cell in place of the tank.SteveW
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 2927
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 01:30 PM
I think we had a big thread on this after that show aired, it was 20/20 or 60 minutes. I think the conclusion was the mustang was unfairly singled out because there are a LOT of other cars that hit in the back with enough force will rupture the fuel tank spilling gas into the passenger compartment. Unfortunately I don't remember the specifics of the shows tests. Since that show aired a lot of the mustang parts houses are stocking the steel plate to put between the trunk and rear seat.
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 800
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-09-2001 01:39 PM
Since you bring up fuel cell I was wondering what is it about these that make them more safe then regaulr tanks? I especially look at the plastic ones and wonder how strong they are. Could somebody explain briefly?
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 7124
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 03:56 PM
There is a Mustang Supply co. in Arizona that manufactures a steel cover that goes over the tank. It is 11 guage, a little less than 1/8", and it weighs about 26 lbs. It is shaped to fit over the tank and comes with all the hardware, etc. They sent bolts but I am going to use 5/16 grade 8. It is called Tank-Armor. In a recent issue of M&Fords, Smart installed one in his 67 cpe. It is around 190, I believe. Pricey, but it seems like a good idea. It may bend in a serious collision, but I believe that it will keep the tank from rupturing, which is what it is designed for. I'm putting it in my 68 cv.
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 9476
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 04:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by JAAZZY:
Since you bring up fuel cell I was wondering what is it about these that make them more safe then regaulr tanks? I especially look at the plastic ones and wonder how strong they are. Could somebody explain briefly?
Jas, A fuel cell has a tough flexible blader inside. Even if they get mangled they don't leak. Some are even filled with an open cell
material (like a sponge).  SteveW
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44921
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-09-2001 04:24 PM
I wouldn't put too much stock in that hype. It's just tv news sensationalism.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L DOHC
Ford. The closer you look, the better WE look!
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 800
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-09-2001 04:26 PM
I was going to buy one anyway for the next time I run the Silver State but I always wondered about them. I need a larger tank as well. I looked at the prices of these things.... geez, they sure don't like like they should cost so much! quote:
Originally posted by steve'66:
Jas,A fuel cell has a tough flexible blader inside. Even if they get mangled they don't leak. Some are even filled with an open cell
material (like a sponge). SteveW
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 9476
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 04:33 PM
You're probably not going to get rearended on the SilverState run. But fuelcells are great safety devices. BTW the ones made to fit our classics are about $300 more than a generic sized cell. Jay was looking into making an adapter plate. How'd that work out Jay? SteveW
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 800
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-09-2001 06:27 PM
It is required for the higher speed classes... It wasn't required in the 145 class but is in the 160+ classes. quote:
Originally posted by steve'66:
You're probably not going to get rearended on the SilverState run. But fuelcells are great safety devices. BTW the ones made to fit our classics are about $300 more than a generic sized cell. Jay was looking into making an adapter plate. How'd that work out Jay? SteveW
[This message has been edited by JAAZZY (edited 08-09-2001).]
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 2927
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 07:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
I wouldn't put too much stock in that hype. It's just tv news sensationalism.
Yeah, that's what I was trying to say, honest! 
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 9476
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-09-2001 09:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by sigtauenus:
Yeah, that's what I was trying to say, honest!
As far as safety is concerned I'd worry more about the steering columm that's gonna spear you when you rear end someone else. Melissa's '66 has been rear ended twice, and recieved two new gas tanks. They were only 20-30 mph hits, but still. At 50mph or so the passenger compartment would be full of gas without some protection. We'll never make them as safe as a new Volvo, but it doesn't hurt to try. SteveW
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JAAZZY
Gearhead Posts: 800
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 08-09-2001 10:00 PM
Steve,I could swear I saw an add for a collapsable column somewhere.
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Doc
Gearhead Posts: 466
From: Redwood City, Ca. USA
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 08-09-2001 11:42 PM
I worked in a wrecking yard (it was a long time ago so it wasn't a recycling facility) and of all the cars that were burned none were from a fuel tank rupture, they had fuel line breaks and more than once the fire was started by flares being put out for safety . This is not to say a fuel tank rupture never caused a fire but the media watches the movies and believe "all" cars blow up 3 or 4 times when wrecked. I take all safety precautions with a race car but I don't figure a street car is a bomb just because it carries gas. I still think they should put the drivers seat on the front bumper and after a time there won't be any wrecks  .
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44921
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-10-2001 04:56 PM
There is also a panel they sell that mounts behind the rear seat and isolates the trunk area.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L DOHC
Ford. The closer you look, the better WE look!
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 7124
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 08-10-2001 09:16 PM
Smart installed BOTH the tank-armor cover and the partition behind the seat. He showed them both in his article. Between the two panels, it's close to 50 llbs. If you're not racing on the strip, it makes no difference, especially if it saves you life!
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Ralph Rebandt
Gearhead Posts: 517
From: Farmington Hills, MI
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 08-11-2001 07:26 AM
So ya'all . . . it sounds like the consensus is that this is more hype than not, and if I do look in my rear view mirror, it shouldn't be a problem
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44921
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 08-11-2001 11:59 AM
It's up to you, Ralph. I have the same set-up in my Mach 1 and I don't plan to change a thing.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
'97 Probe GTS 2.5L DOHC
Ford. The closer you look, the better WE look!
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Jeff
Gearhead Posts: 306
From: Moore, OK USA
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 08-11-2001 09:28 PM
I have Tank Armor in my '65 2+2. It is a nicely crafted plate that bolts through existing bolt holes. It has a couple strips of dampening material to ensure the tank and the tank armor plate don't resonate and make noise. The fuel filler pipe is open and filled with a gasket made of hardware store style aluminized foam insulation. The kit fits well and does what it is advertized to do. That is, add an extra layer of sheet metal between you and the fuel. Since the Tank Armor plate is much more rigid than the tank, the chances are the tank will burst out the bottom before bursting out the top (which takes care of the major concern - fuel in the passenger compartment). If you want more safety than Tank Armor offers then you want a racing fuel cell with bladder tank (like airplanes have). There's a company that makes these, I know Dallas Mustang carries them, saw one in their store in Dallas just a day or two ago. Tank Armor sells mail order for about $180. A bladder tank sells for about $1,000.
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