I apparently missed the new rule last year that states that all fuel system components that have been exposed by interior removal must be covered with a metal bulkhead. This specifically includes the filler neck.

I missed this last year, and so did my annual tech inspector. But I'm guessing that won't happen again.

So what have you EF Civic and CRX guys done?
Looking at it, it wouldn't be hard to fab a nice aluminum cover as long as you had the equipement to do the forming (which I don't). You could probably just make a regular box, but that would look kind of crapish.

Any spiffy ideas that were cheap and simple but look good?
Photos?

Scott, who keeps *thinking* that he really doesn't have any work to do on the car, but keeps finding stuff.

 

i thought our filler tubes were tubes inside of tubes and thus were already enclosed. does it specifically say a metal bulkhead is required or that it cannot be exposed. if it is sleeved by another tube, that should "cover" it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Looking at it, it wouldn't be hard to fab a nice aluminum cover as long as you had the equipement to do the forming (which I don't). You could probably just make a regular box, but that would look kind of crapish.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Could you re-install part of the interior plastic to cover the filler neck again? Sounds lighter than an AL cover.

I wonder what's driving that rule... sounds to be a little unnecessary.

-Chris

(Edit, didn't really read previous post.. maybe that's the case?)

 

What's probably driving that rule is a new realization on the Spec Miata front.

The stock Miata has the fuel filler tube in the trunk area, with an exposed large rubber hose between the filler and the tank held on by clamps. Separating the trunk area from the passenger compartment is a horizontal "hat shelf" with an access cover and a vertical-ish bulkhead.

The problem is that this bulkhead does not fully isolate the passenger compartment from the trunk; when the interior pieces are removed there are fist-sized (or bigger) holes where one can look right into the trunk, and thus the exposed rubber filler tube. A few zealous tech inspectors out west were dropping SMs because the passenger compartment was exposed to fuel system components, contrary to the rules. Brought to the attention of Topeka, no doubt exacerbated by the highly-visible Dale Jr flambe incident, this has now become the safety-issue-of-the-moment.

I suggest that isolating the filler tube from the rest of the car is far easier than isolating the passenger compartment from the trunk area. To achieve that, you can build a "box" around the filler tube, making sure that it's designed such that if that area of the car is hit your box will not split and penetrate the tube (making the cure worse than the disease). Remember, the whole point of this rule is to stop fuel splash (and thus YOU flambe) if that tube is ever compromised.

If you don't like the way it looks, plant a couple of flowers around it so no one notices...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Greg Amy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What's probably driving that rule is a new realization on the Spec Miata front.

The stock Miata has the fuel filler tube in the trunk area, with an exposed large rubber hose between the filler and the tank held on by clamps. Separating the trunk area from the passenger compartment is a horizontal "hat shelf" with an access cover and a vertical-ish bulkhead.

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That is 100% correct! I bet there are literally 100s of Wreck Miatas that are actually illegal on this front.

Fortunately, my cage builder (shameless plug) Chris at http://www.competitioncages.com solved this issue when he made the cage, making this a non-issue for me on the ITA car.

Besides, it is a good rule...I don't want to be horribly disfigured, do you?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RacerBowie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Besides, it is a good rule...I don't want to be horribly disfigured</TD></TR></TABLE>

Too late. (Heh Heh)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Too late. (Heh Heh)

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That hurts, bitch!!!! Good thing I am way down in ATL or I would come up there, kick your ***, take your Integra, use it to tow my (formerly Shultz') busted-*** CRX home, come back up there, run over you with it, then give it to the nearest east High Point street bum I could find.

 

Merry Christmas, yo.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tom91ita &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i thought our filler tubes were tubes inside of tubes and thus were already enclosed. does it specifically say a metal bulkhead is required or that it cannot be exposed. if it is sleeved by another tube, that should "cover" it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think they are tubes in tubes, but even if they are I don't think this solves the issue. As greg mentioned, the intent is to protect you from a fuel splash. If the tube is ripped loose at the top or bottom its likely going to splash out fuel if there isn't a cover on it.

I never even thought about this until I was looking for something else in the 2004 IT rules and saw this rule. Again, I just plain missed it last year, but I think its a good idea.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> If the tube is ripped loose at the top or bottom its likely going to splash out fuel if there isn't a cover on it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

How does a cover prevent fuel splashing out unless it is sealed and vented to the floorpan? It may prevent some fuel from splashing on you or your seat on impact, but the fuel could easily get sloshed out or drain under your seat or anywhere else in the car.

RJ - who thinks this is a poorly written rule with good intent

 

If the filler neck breaks the fuel is going to go somewhere. Better to a pool in the hatch than splashing all over the car.

I don't think the rule intent was to completely seal everything off under all circumstances. I think it was meant to prevent wild splashing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If the filler neck breaks the fuel is going to go somewhere. Better to a pool in the hatch than splashing all over the car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats my point - it wont be contained in a crash unless its sealed and vented to the floor - and then that potentially dumps more mess on the track, but still better than fuel in the cabin.