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That's where I have mine, Alan - tucked up and less visible but mine won't cover the fan belt side of the engine as well.  With only a 3-footer it's a trade-off while the 6-footer covers everything but then yu have to stuff it in there.   I covered the fuel lines (behind the fan shroud) and carbs - that's about it.  Mine is only anchored at the lid hinges and it pushes against the wheel well liners and everything stays in place du to the rigidity of the tube.

The issue with tucking it up under the body is anchor points.  Glass in a few of those and you'd be el Mecánico de oro (the mechanic of Gold).

@Gordon Nichols. -“el mecánico de Oro”.   I love that!!!  

Sounds like an anual award that should be issued on a yearly basis by this forum.   Voted on by its members, and presented during an annual gathering for the most creative and amazing mechanical endeavors in the betterment and advancement of our hobby.

Llike the oscars, or golden globe in soccer, or crystal globe in skiing, or the green blazer in golf?.

Cool.  I'll be doing that. I was also thinking that I might have them make up a short one to mount up under the dash.  That seems to be the next most likely place to have a fire break out. 

I doubt very much that BlazeCut would do that for you. It won't cost anything to ask, though. One question: What "fuel" source under the dash might you be concerned about,...let alone that of sufficient "fire" to ignite it?

That's where I have mine, Alan - tucked up and less visible but mine won't cover the fan belt side of the engine as well.  With only a 3-footer it's a trade-off while the 6-footer covers everything but then yu have to stuff it in there.   I covered the fuel lines (behind the fan shroud) and carbs - that's about it.  Mine is only anchored at the lid hinges and it pushes against the wheel well liners and everything stays in place du to the rigidity of the tube.

The issue with tucking it up under the body is anchor points.  Glass in a few of those and you'd be el Mecánico de oro (the mechanic of Gold).

Before I started the installation, I spoke with two Customer Service reps at the BlazeCut home office to satisfy my questions re. the 100cm (39+inches) tube adequately suppressing a fire within the speedster's engine compartment volume. Both gentlemen told me it was more than adequate, and actually (based upon the measured volume), it produces almost 2 times the advertised suppression coverage for the compartment's cubic cm's. That sealed the deal for me and I chose the Model T100E.   Also, the next size (200cm = 79+inches) would have meant my horsing with the tube to ensure it wouldn't be too close (less than 1") to anything that gets really hot.  At my age, the last thing I want is any "premature unwarranted discharge" ....by me or, for that matter, the BlazeCut! 

Last edited by Napa Paul

@Lfepardo

Luis, a few years back, I created an award based on the trials and tribulations that Lane Anderson went through in messing with one of his carburetors and subsequently losing a "Brass Thingie", never found even to this day (and not for lack of looking for it).  His persistence in looking for it, then taking a different direction and getting beyond his set-back, was a 42-page inspiration to us all in the hobby.  Lane became the first recipient of the "Brass Thingie" award for persistence at one of our Carlisle gatherings.

Last I heard, it had been transferred to Ed Erickson, formerly of Nova fame, to show him that we all admire his persistence in overcoming obstacle after obstacle and persevering in the face of gargantuan odds in building his soon-to-be award-winning 550 Spyder (once we get the hell out of this Covid nightmare).  I would leave it up to Ed to decide who the next recipient of this prestigious award should be.   I just created it - It now has a life of it's own.

Please forgive the "ghost hands" reflected in the photo, but it's the only image I have for it.

Brass Thingie

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  • Brass Thingie

I like the ghost hands, Gordon, it adds to the mystery.

To answer Paul's question about why under the dash, it's the second most likely place to have a fire start.  While I might become aware of that one before the flames are enough trigger the Blaze-Cut and be able to extinguish it myself, I thought a little extra safety wouldn't hurt.  Every race car I've seen with a system in it has outlets in the engine bay, fuel area, under the dash, and the driver's area.  If I have to get out of the car fast I don't have harnesses and cages to navigate, so going that far seems a bit much.  

I like the ghost hands, Gordon, it adds to the mystery.

To answer Paul's question about why under the dash, it's the second most likely place to have a fire start.  While I might become aware of that one before the flames are enough trigger the Blaze-Cut and be able to extinguish it myself, I thought a little extra safety wouldn't hurt.  Every race car I've seen with a system in it has outlets in the engine bay, fuel area, under the dash, and the driver's area.  If I have to get out of the car fast I don't have harnesses and cages to navigate, so going that far seems a bit much.  

Still wondering "Why in the world would you install a BlazeCut tube under the dash?" I called their home office (608-719-7212) and asked them that question. I told the gentleman exactly what our Speedsters are (and aren't) and his response was "it's not recommended."  He went on to say he'd installed hundreds of their fire suppression systems, and not one of them had gone under the dash. He did concede, however, if a customer downright demanded that he install it under the dash...he'd do it. Then, he said, he'd walk off counting his money and scratching his head.  

Well, Paul, Thanks for the research.  I had an MG Midget once that nearly burnt to the ground from a fire under the dash.  There were flames, man were there flames! We got it out with a hand held, what a mess.  These things get used in server racks, so it ought to some good if a short starts a fire and I won't suffer from nightmares of that ever happening to me again.  So the guy from Blaze Cut can scratch his head all he wants.  He's welcome to the steak dinner I'll buy him with my  frivolous purchase.  You can chuckle at me, too.  I'll still buy you a beer if we ever got to SLO again. 

Then again, I may just install a 3 or 5 lb. remote system and plumb spray heads where ever it will do the most good (actually or psychological). 

Well, Paul, Thanks for the research.  I had an MG Midget once that nearly burnt to the ground from a fire under the dash.  There were flames, man were there flames! We got it out with a hand held, what a mess.  These things get used in server racks, so it ought to some good if a short starts a fire and I won't suffer from nightmares of that ever happening to me again.  So the guy from Blaze Cut can scratch his head all he wants.  He's welcome to the steak dinner I'll buy him with my  frivolous purchase.  You can chuckle at me, too.  I'll still buy you a beer if we ever got to SLO again. 

Then again, I may just install a 3 or 5 lb. remote system and plumb spray heads where ever it will do the most good (actually or psychological). 

I think the misunderstanding here is that the BlazeCut system only works in a "mostly enclosed" or confined area (e.g., a closed front or rear engine compartment), and NOT in the open-air and relatively "unconfined" large cubic foot area of a car's interior...which would include "under the dash."  The largest BlazeCut system (T600E) is a tube 20'8" long and its maximum volume coverage is 75 cu.ft. to 122 cu.ft. Try installing that in a Speedster and I bet you could sell tickets for people to watch.  All of this is really moot, though, inasmuch as you can't even calculate the Maximum Volume of a Speedies passenger compartment with the top down That's like a      3-legged stool with only 2 legs. It just doesn't compute! 

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