GB Interest: FD Specific Fire Extinguisher Bracket (+ halon extinguisher?)
 

This is a GB INTEREST thread!
I've had a flood of PM's recently asking if it would be possible to replicate the extinguisher bracket I created for my FD. My answer to everyone so far has been "maybe, if people actually want them" which is why this thread is here. If there are a fair amount of people interested I'll pretty it up, create a cad file for the pieces that need to be bent/machined/laser cut, come up with a FAIR price, and run the actual GB. As many of our friends and customers know, we are not here to gouge anyone on price... we're here because we love the FD and want to make absolutely sure our cars remain not only competitive, but not burnt to the ground for the next 10 years at least. Dan and I both are very passionate about the FD,



Yes, you need an extinguisher!
As we all know, FD's can at any time spontaneously combust at any time :lol::blush: . The rotary puts out so much heat under the hood that plastics and rubbers subjected to the temps don't fair well over time. Cracked fuel lines, bad FPD, bad coolant lines spraying on the turbo, and many other potential issues can lead to a fire, and the risk of fire increase as all of the parts under the hood age. A fire extinguisher is NOT a substitute for replacing these aging parts and hoses, however, even with preventative maintenance these cars have a reputation for catching on fire. I'm personally rebuilding a 2nd FD (project car) that I acquired after a BAD engine fire. Even if we don't end up making this mount, you owe it to your investment in the car to carry an extinguisher of some sort (and I'm sure in this thread we will debate the various types, and benefits/disadvantages of each).




Why a mount?
Because your extinguisher needs to be in easy reach, quick to access and remove, but safe in a high speed collision. Having an extinguisher in your car is great, but getting hit in the head with it in a crash sucks. Likewise, putting the extinguisher in a safe location (say in the trunk on a secure mount) makes it inaccessible when time is of the essence (if the fire spreads too much it may become unstoppable, so you need it close and quick to remove).




Design:
The current design bolts to the bottom of the seat rail, in front of the passengers legs. This provides the structural rigidity needed to keep that 5lb bottle in its place during a crash (should be suitable for both track and street use). An aircraft quick release pin is used to lock the lower stationary mount to the removable section which holds the bottle. This makes detaching the bottle as simple as pulling the pin out, and lifting the bottle upward. The design of the mount allows the entire assembly to move with the seat, doesn't affect getting in and out of the car (your passenger shouldn't get hung up on it), still allows for the seat adjust lever to be reached, and looks (relatively) stock. In coming up with the design I realized that it would be unpleasant (if I was the passenger) to have this metal bottle touching my legs... as a result, while I was designing the mount it was tested using a number of different passengers of different sizes/proportions to find the least intrusive placement, while still allowing the seat adjustment lever to be rotated (not an easy task). I haven't yet tested it but it may be possible to mount it to the front of the driver's seat as well, or possibly even the back of the seat using the same mount. I'll have to give it a try.




Options, ideas:
As I've only machined and bent a one off bracket for myself i can't yet tell you the cost to reproduce these. I just honestly don't know at this stage. If there is enough interest we will come up with a fair price, but that's not for this thread, that is for the actual GB thread. This thread is for talking about interest and options. Possible options would include powdercoating (most likely black matte or semi-gloss) on the bracket, clamp or both.

We are also considering the possibility of trying to leverage GB power to lower the cost of purchasing halon extinguishers (halotron and powder type are readily available online). This is still up in the air, and we are not sure how feasible this would be, however it may be simpler to simply sell this setup which fits most 3" extinguishers, and let you guys source your own actual extinguishers.




Pics (I'll snap a few more detailed pictures later):

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/DSC04567.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/DSC04588.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...l/DSC01325.jpg
everyone, feel free to post pics of your FD on fire LOL! Here's how I got her from the previous owner. Toasted..... niiiceelyyy toasted... :nod:


http://www.h3rperformance.com/images...t_box_2008.jpg
:uhh: :facepalm:


^BTW apparently we represent cars on fire. That's not good :doh:


-Heath





GB Interest List:
1.
2.
3.
4.

GB Interest List:
1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2.
3.
4.


Will these only work with stock seats?

That's a pretty nice set up. I just really wouldn't recommend Halon for an extinguisher unless it's someone experienced with putting out fires. Halon removes oxygen from the environment and if an inexperienced user uses it on a windy day or if the bottle leaks in the car that person will pass out from lack of oxygen being available. Halon is also oderless and colorless when it's leaking too. I'm only saying this because I work around the stuff working on planes everyday in the AF and bottles have leaked from time to time. More info for your safety: http://erd.dli.mt.gov/safetyhealth/brochures/halon.pdf

GB Interest List:
1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3.
4.

GB Interest List:
1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4.
5.
6.
7.


Can you maybe post up a few more pics of how the device releases and what the bottle and bracket look like detached?

So what would you recommend? Only certain materials can put out electrical fires.

[QUOTE=RCCAZ 1;10039777]GB Interest List:
1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5.
6.
7.


Yay another Sakebomb product! :nod:

Like we don't already slowly die from the odorless/colorless fumes we breath coming out of our cars:lol:



~Shar

1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6.
7.

I'm sure this will open up a can of worms, but what the hell. First, Halon is the most effective for extinguishing fires. It unfortunately is also illegal and is supposed to be used only for "critical" applications like aviation, military, IT stuff, etc. Yes, you can still buy it and use it but there are other effective more safe (for you and the environment) solutions.

Halotron is the replacement for Halon. It is effective (yes, not as good as Halo but it exceeds all standards) and will work and is the recommended product for auto enthusiasts. It is what is used by Nascar and other sanctioning bodies. I kind of think if Nascar thinks it will work, it is probably good stuff.

I have the following unit:

http://www.h3rperformance.com/hg250c.htm

Dupont also makes fire extinguishers for motorsports. The Dupont FE-36 unit would be ideal for our use:

http://www2.dupont.com/FE/en_US/products/fe36.html

Let the flaming (pun intended) begin!

Now about the bracket: I love this and think it is pretty cool. I have my fire extinguisher stored in my driver's side bin so accessibility is okay but I could never figure out where else to store it. Not sure I want it in front of the passenger's seat though as I am an "OEM" kind of guy but that is the best alternative I have seen to date. Any other locations for this that is more out of the way but still accessible or should I just proudly display my chrome extinguisher to let my passengers know I care about them? Of course it's all about the car but I don't have to tell them this right? :)

More than happy to :) I just wont be at the garage till mid week, but I'll take more detailed pics then. Sorry for the lack of pics in the first post, this was kind of an impromptu thread. -Heath

1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.

1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
7. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.

1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
7. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.
8. Et3rNaL - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side

1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
7. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.
8. Et3rNaL - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side
9. mrgne1 - bracket only, US passenger side.

Just stick with the dry chemical ABC type. Both Halon and dry chemical are ABC types. I will say that one of the advantages of Halon is it doesn't leave corrosive material behind. All I really have for input on it is if someone does get a halon extinguisher inspect it frequently, make it habit. Not trying to start any kind of war. Just making people aware of the hazards is all =)

1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
7. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.
8. Et3rNaL - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side
9. mrgne1 - bracket only, US passenger side.
10. onefast3gen - bracket and extinguisher, US passenger side

1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
7. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.
8. Et3rNaL - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side
9. mrgne1 - bracket only, US passenger side.
10. onefast3gen - bracket and extinguisher, US passenger side
11. Sgtblue- bracket only. USDM passenger side.

How will this work with aftermarket seat? Or even people with Spirit-R Recaro? I, myself, have Recaro SPG with Bride rail. Can I still use it?

Im interested in both

im interested, do you have a cost shipped to canada?

heres pics of my crispy fd engine bay

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...7/DSCN2851.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...7/DSCN2868.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...7/DSCN2869.jpg

mmm mine was about that crispy too. It was a good excuse for a color change and a 20b :D

I dont have a cost yet as this is just an interest thread, but we will be drawing it up a CAD image after making it look a little nicer. So far this is just an interest thread. Yes we are happy to ship internationally, though shipping cost is higher obviously.




Yes, inspect frequently is important. Luckily its easy to check with this mount. Also recycling halon is a MUST when it's time for a recharge among other things. While this thread is for interest, I really want to encourage (at the same time as gathering interest) a discussion regarding which fire extinguishers to use, why, and benefits, risks, etc. Halon has some big upsides, but also has environmental and safety downsides... if you are a halon owner you MUST be responsible owner. If you don't think you will be, it's not the extinguisher for you. On the flip side, the powder residue left by powder types can leave almost as much damage as the fire.... that stuff gets into everything. So IDK people need to understand the +/- of each type and make an educated decision.


Unfortunately it wont work with aftermarket seats.... it's designed specifically for the stock seat and stock seat rail. The spirit r / RZ recaros is a maybe, I'd need to see a picture of the underside of the rail. That one very well could work but until I can physically test one on an RZ/SR seat I wont know for sure.


1. Ceylon - RHD - (Bracket + extinguisher)
2. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
3. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
5. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
6. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
7. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.
8. Et3rNaL - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side
9. mrgne1 - bracket only, US passenger side.
10. onefast3gen - bracket and extinguisher, US passenger side
11. Sgtblue- bracket only. USDM passenger side.
12. Mdessouki
13. taylor7787

Bugger. I wont have stock seats much longer :(

1. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
2. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
3. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
5. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
6. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.
7. Et3rNaL - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side
8. mrgne1 - bracket only, US passenger side.
9. onefast3gen - bracket and extinguisher, US passenger side
10. Sgtblue- bracket only. USDM passenger side.
11. Mdessouki
12. taylor7787

As far as I know, Halo in the size we'd carry in our cars (5 lbs. or less) is rated B:C, not ABC. So, Halon has some big upside but some big downsides as well. And powder reside is not good either. Hmm, if only there was some other obvious compromise and solution to this? :scratch:

1. Natey - bracket for US passenger's side.
2. RCCAZ 1 - bracket only for US passenger's side.
3. blizzaga - bracket only for US passenger's side.
4. toyzzzz - bracket and extinguisher us passenger side
5. NRattV7 - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side.
6. millertime - bracket only, US passenger side.
7. Et3rNaL - bracket and extinguisher US passenger side
8. mrgne1 - bracket only, US passenger side.
9. onefast3gen - bracket and extinguisher, US passenger side
10. Sgtblue- bracket only. USDM passenger side.
11. Mdessouki
12. taylor7787
13. bwalt - bracket only LHD, pass side.