Early Mustang Exploding Gas Tank Fix
filed in 1967 Mustang
Question: I am a proud owner of a 1967 Mustang. The 60 Minutes program has been showing a story on the gas tanks exploding and or fuel running into the interior from a rear end crash. I have heard that a company was mentioned on the show that made a fix for this. Does anyone know the name, or web address for this company? Does anyone no of any solutions other than a fuel cell from a race car? Any help is appreciated.
Answer: I’m sorry but I don’t recall the name of the company shown on 60 Minutes. If you or a friend is reasonably handy with tools you can make a splash barrier out of aluminum or steel sheet. Remove the rear seat and package tray liner and the paper backing for the seat back. Cut a cardboard pattern to fill in the entire area from wheel well to wheel well and top to bottom where the rear setback goes. Transfer this pattern to your aluminum or steel sheet stock and cut to fit. Pop rivet or screw this to the area behind the seat making sure you notch it to fit over the seat mounting tabs. You can seal around the edges with silicone for quiet and extra protection. This was a required modification in a class I used to race in but I don’t remember which. Age seems to affect me that way. Don’t assume a racing fuel cell is protection by itself! The fuel won’t splash out as quickly as a steel tank but you have to remember that a race car fuel cell is protected by some very strong roll cage tubing that keeps the cell from being crushed in all but the most severe crashes. You don’t have that kind of protection in your “67. I have had 15 assorted “65 to”73 Mustangs and think they are great. I still have 5 of them: three parts cars , a “65 Fastback and my “65 coupe drag car which I am trying to return to street legal status. After being required to have the splash shield in my race car , I also made one for my wife’s 66 GT which we were driving every day at the time. This modification also improves the noise level in the car and makes the stereo sound better if you have speakers mounted in the back deck. It only takes about 1 afternoon to make and if you are careful with the installation, you won’t even see it. “doctortom”
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