Fire Extinguisher Mounting - Mid 20's Buick

[Hubert_25-25]

My Buick has no trunk.  I wanted a place to store a fire extinguisher that was readily accessible.  I found this mounting bracket and using a piece of 1.5 x 1.5 angle iron, I mounted this using the bolts that hold the scuff plates on the running board.   This is on the passenger side and the extinguisher is mainly behind the apron, but can be seen from below and the release knob is easy to get to.     

 

Hugh

 

 

[32buick67]

Hugh, 

What are your thoughts on an automated temperature-activated fire suppression system with a manual emergency pull cord?

Initial expensive investment, but maybe its worth it?  <$1k investment for a $20k+ car?  Is 5% a reasonable risk-reduction value?

I am not sure about maintenance costs of an automated system, e.g. does the Novec or FM-200 gas have a shelf life and do the canisters need replacing (annually, 5yrs, etc.)?

I figured I would pick your brain based on your chem background to see what you think.

 

I figure the highest statistically volatile locations in a car would likely be the carb, fuel pump, exhaust manifold, ignition/distributor and maybe under the dashboard.

Obviously that is a lot of additional piping that likely won't be capable of being hidden when specifically targeting areas for what can be an unknown and inexact initiating event like a flame/fire.

Or, maybe mount the ring-type suppression system to the firewall to 'forward-wash' the entire engine compartment in Novec gas?

What is the cuft area of a typical engine compartment, 50cuft? 

How large of a compressed gas tank would be required for xx seconds to ensure full extinguish, or at least delay the fire spread long enough for someone to supplement with a hand extinguisher?

I know, rabbit hole science project...

 

I am not promoting this, just an example of an automated system on the market for talking points.

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=7035

 

Thoughts?

[Mark Shaw]

17 hours ago, 32buick67 said:

What are your thoughts on an automated temperature-activated fire suppression system with a manual emergency pull cord?

Not interested for vintage cars.  I think preventing fire by prudent routing of metallic fuel lines along with routine use of a reliable fuel shut off valve just ahead of the carb & fuel filter are more practical. 

 

Your proposed system is for high powered race cars, not antiques.

[Buick35]

I saw yesterday on the news where an antique car caught on fire during a Christmas parade.I plan on being in one in two weeks so I'm going to buy a fire extinguisher today

[Larry Schramm]

I keep a fire extinguisher in all of my vehicles where they are easy to access. 

 

Just common sense

[Layden B]

A fuel shut off just ahead of the fuel pump and carburetor pretty much guarantees that it will not be accessible in case of an engine compartment fire. At the gas tank also protects in case of fuel line problems. Sometimes this requires an actuating rod to make it readily operable without getting under or inside the car.

[Layden B]

Best location for a fire extinguisher on many early cars is mounted inside the lid of a running board tool box. When you open the box, there it is in your face and not buried in the bottom under tools, rags, parts etc.

[Larry Schramm]

In two of my cars, the fire extinguisher is laying on the floor in the back seat. Open touring cars so I can just reach over the seat and get the extinguisher. 

On the truck, it is located right behind the drivers seat in the bed.  Easily accessed.

 

On a different location, how many of you have your home extinguisher located above the stove in the kitchen?  Absolutely the wrong place.  Should be in the kitchen opposite of the stove in the room.

 

I also keep a couple of fire extinguishers in the garage by the door going into the house.  One a dry chemical and a CO2 depending on the fire. ( I was on a fire dept. for a number of years)  There are more in my shop, and they are not the little ones about the size of a quart of milk.

Edited December 5, 2021 by Larry Schramm (see edit history)

[Bill - 29 Buick]

I experienced two carb fire and luckily managed to put them out.

 

I now carry a small and a large extinguisher in my 29 McL-Buick.

 

And, have 2 big ones at both sides of the garage door + a fire blanket.

 

Stay safe !

 

Bill McLaughlin