FYI Cautions Bumper mounting

0neoffive

0neoffive

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
2,968
It's been said before many times, but I just saw this one again. A client called with a fuel leak complaint in the far rear boot area. A few Q & A moments disclosed he had mounted his newly chromed bumpers last spring with all new bolts etc. Of course the rear bumper bracket bolts were too long and contacted the fuel transfer tube elbows, eventually rubbing their way into them. Play safely, kiddies . . . . . .
 
I've always wondered how many tigers/alpines were in vloved in rear end accidents weher the bolts breached the cross over tubes.. in a tiger all the worse for the battery being in the back...
 
Good tip. Boy, when I think about the safety aspects of these cars..........
Won't stop me from drivin' em though

Mike
 
Remember the Pinto problem? That tank was under the trunk but had the same pointed bolts.

Odd, of all the bolts made they use the ones with pointed ends to mount the tanks. Not going to make much difference what type of bolt used if hit hard enough though.
 
My panel man was looking at the set up with the cross over tube and asking the same question. What happens in a rearender. Does anyone know of any disaster stories when this happens ?.

Though most cars have there fuel tank in the rear of the car anyway.
 
the other option... this was done after the previous owner had an incident in his track prepared race car... after that he decided during the resto of the MKIA road car that a fuel cell was a better option than keeping the stock tanks.... that said.. not so good for spare wheel/luggage

 
"We all got flaws"

Tigers are a small car (news?) and the basic engineering for the time found places to put what had to be put. Impact hazzards are best handled by not attending the accident. When I think of all the cars we've owned and worked on, they all had some drastic method of flaming up like Pinto/Gremlin/Mustang or impalement from steering shafts, or howz about pre-safety glass! I taught my kids on the track and hammered home the need to sacrifice a fender or door to soften a blow rather than accept a solid hit. When you can't avoid it, dictate a glancing thrust for survival sake.
 
cautions

i know of one instance over the years of a tiger burning in an accident. it happened in pittsburgh several years ago. the tiger was hit in the rear but the tank or cross over tubes were not punctured. there was a leak somewhere and the accident caused a spark and the gas ignited. the entire car was burned but as of a couple years ago another owner had it and had given some thought to restoring it. i also have the right tank that was original to my series 4 and it has a large dent that reduced my tank capacity by a few gallons. that was the result of an accident back in the late 60's on a snow covered street a block from home when i bounced off a few trees and ended up in a neighbors yard. dad always said if it wasn't your time don't worry about it. you'll walk away. even from a rear end hit on an alpine or tiger.
 
cautions

i also know of a tiger that had a series 2 alpine tank added to the trunk and tied in with the side tanks to add fuel capacity.
 
Richard Grimshaw

Was the poor fellow, nearly burned to death in the Pinto incident. Given a 14 million back then was no help for his being maimed. Warning do not Google his pic!

Given the low bumper height and the height of every SUV out there the stock Tiger faces the potential of a similar fate.

The Filler neck on the Ford products, many incl. Mustang the 64 Falcon Conv. in my driveway share the same fatal flaw with their little necks waiting for the guillotine blade from a overriding SUV.

The fact that it is only an "I have heard about" thing is simply the law of large or small numbers.

I hate to be a wet blanket, but 20 plus years in the insurance property and casualty biz will do that to you. Not to mention hanging with my American Honda R and D buddies.

Really pretty your fuel cell, fix. Really something I'd like to do. Hard to design for collisions the fuel line being sheared off and the battery positive cable getting mashed still seems likely. Way better for sure maybe a override plate for the fuel line and a power fuel pump impact disconnect switch.

Sorry, for the rant sometimes worry can make you buy a idiot proof 5 star SUV, I am thinking Ford Extrusion.

Maybe I should go back to being a fatalist and go for a motorcycle ride in LA
Warren In So. Cal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top