On a CRX the fuel filler neck is exposed to the drivers compartment. According to SCCA rules must this fuel filler neck be enclosed in a metal "firewall"?

 

Correct.

Case in point: the Spec Miatas have the filler neck in the trunk area. When the seatbelts and back interior trim is removed the trunk is exposed to the cockpit area. SCCA is requiring all SMs to "seal" this area and isolate it from the driver. The point is to minimize the possibility of fuel splashing in the cockpit and the driver becoming flambe (a la Dale Jr last summer).

As a general rule-of-thumb, we're using the "flashlight test" to check Speccers: one tech guy gets in the trunk with a flashlight and shines it around, another tech guy gets in the cockpit and looks for light leakage. No leakage? You're golden.

 

Most of us are just fabbing an aluminum cover for the filler necks on the Civics and CRXs. As Greg mentioned, what you're after is something that will keep fuel from splashing in the interior of the car if the filler neck breaks or separates from the tank in a crash.

 

why doesn't this get flagged at an annual inspection? is the rule going to be effective in 2006?

 

The rule is already in effect. The guy who did my tech inspection was checking for it.

I guess if you happen to get your annual from a slack-*** you can get away with not having it.