Well I thought it would be a nice idea in a rock rig, but I still want to drive it on the road as well.

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WARNING, WARNING, Will Robinson!



What can I say, I must not be as old as you. I was too young to remember the "Lost in Space" robot with his "Danger, Danger, Will Robinson, Danger" thing. But as a kid I wanted a robot soooo bad. But then again, I wanted a Superman flying suit too! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

No. The fuel runs right out of the foam, almost as fast as it would a regular tank.

What it DOES is prevent a tank from exploding. A foam- filled cell will burn, but it won't give you the movie- like 'KABAM' that a Pinto will. Contained within a rubber bladder, it's a much safer way to carry liquid explosive, especially if you do something really stupid like race cars.

The foam does deteriorate with age- the newer foams are better- but a screen at the pickup will prevent most clogs- the foam makes pretty big chunks.

I'm not sure it's a great idea for street cars (since so few really do blow up) but I wouldn't race without one...

Toby

"especially if you do something really stupid like race cars"

I resent that remark. Personally, I take every precaution to increase the safety when I race. People have asked me why I do soooo much. Because, I know what it feels like to flip a car several times and come to rest upside down soaked from head to foot in methanol. It changes you forever. Luckily it did not ignite. But it scared me forever.

And if you're wondering I race a USAC Midget. Racing doesn't get much wilder.

Fuel bladders inside fuel cells are very expensive. But I will never race a car without one.

OK, I have vented. Now as far as foam goes, my opinion is that it is useless. The fuel will flow out of a broken fuel tank just about as fast as a non-foamed tank.

Think of all the racing accidents you have seen on TV. How many fires were ignited after the tank was ruptured? How many tanks have you seen explode? I have raced for over 30 years. I have never seen either on TV or in person a tank explode like the stunt guys do in Hollywood. It just doesn't happen.

OK, I'm off the soap box. Keep the foam out of your 4X4 rig. There is no need for it. It won't help the fuel stay near the fuel pick-up.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />OK, I'm done now.

Now I probably shouldn't be stepping in here (or should I say step in "that") but I don't believe anything personal was meant by the racing being stupid remark. After all, isn't the whole idea behind this forum a chance for everybody that does something stupid (take a perfectly good, streetable vehicle and modify it to the point that it is no longer very comfortable on the road and then POUND THE CRAP OUT OF IT OFFROAD)?

I used to ride my motorcycle 55 mph through stopped traffic on the freeway. Not just once. Every day for a year when I was commuting to the Bay (it's not worth it). Was that stupid? Some may say so. It was a calculated risk. It was also something that quickly became second nature. Some folks like to jump out of airplanes and plummet toward the ground at speeds that would have you thrown in jail in Kaliforia if you were driving that fast. Stupid? Some might think so.

My point is, I don't believe any one here truly meant that racing was stupid. I think it was meant as a joke and may have been taken a little too seriously.

We all participate in activities that are or may be life threatening. Saying a different but very similar activity is stupid can only be meant in jest. It's more like identifying how others view our sports (motor sports generally speaking) and poking a little fun at ourselves.

I hope I've rambled on quite enough to confuse everyone here. It's way past time for me to be sleeping and I can't even remember what I started talking about. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

ummm... that was mean to be sarcasm, not seriousness...

I was speaking from personal experience-
I run an E Production sedan up here in ICSCC in the NW.

And the point, to spell it out, was that if you REALLY cared about safety, and were playing in an arena where lawyers hadn't taken over, you'd run a bladder- style shell with foam in it.

I do.

t