11 replies to this topic

[Yeti]

Hey guys, tried the search option. Couldn't find anything close or maybe im a muppet.


I want to run the fuel lines and the brake lines inside the car. I want to clean up the underneath for many reasons.

Are there any legal issues I should know about? Or safty issues?

I was thinking of using braided lines (tougher the better) and maybe putting them in a pipe to protect them (maybe over kill)



Mr Benn

[*DJH*]

Having the brake lines and fuel lines inside a car is much more safer. however, is this mini for racing or road?

[Yeti]

Its for road use (when it finally get there )

I can understand it being safe for passing over things, but is it legal? If so is there any regulations?



Mr Benn

[Dan]

It is not safer by any means to have the petrol inside the car with you.....

If you really want to do it then there must be no joints of any kind in the line inside the passenger cabin (certainly for the fuel, don't know about the brake although the fluid is nearly as flammable as petrol). And braided lines are out, yes tougher the better as you say but steel braid over nylon is not tougher than solid steel or copper. It must be solid line and one continuous piece.

Personally, I think this is a really bad idea. It is far more likely that a passenger will stamp on any lines inside the car than it being torn off the underside, unless you aim for all the kerbs of course. If you are really worried about it (like the billions of people around the world driving cars with fuel lines underneath aren't) then you could consider fitting the protector plates from an MPi Mini which cover the lines where they are most vulnerable.

[Yeti]

Cheers for the advise Dan. I knew about the one section things. I think before I go any further I will have to find a route that it can go through. If they do go inside I will run them in a pipe as well, to protect them from being caught.




Mr Benn

[*DJH*]

It is not safer by any means to have the petrol inside the car with you.....

That's not neccesaraly true, not if you have the correct piping and protection.

[Dan]

That's not neccesaraly true, not if you have the correct piping and protection.

I'll tell my mate in California who had both his legs burned off in a crash while he was still concious. I'm sure it will be a comfort to him.

In my opinion, keep the fuel out of the cabin and fit an innertia switch. Every time.

[*DJH*]

Obviously it wasn't suitably protected. Considering ALL racing cars have the fuel lines inside the car.

Anyway we're straying, i guess Yeti views on this subject are split.

Edited by DJH MINI MOTORSPORT, 13 May 2007 - 04:30 PM.

[Dan]

And a driver in a two layer Nomex suit, Nomex balaclava, gauntlets, longjohns, boots etc etc. And only enough fuel to finish the race, and externally controlled fuel pump and in many cases extinguisher systems that the marshalls can activate in seconds or the driver can if still conscious. This is the same argument as for roll cages, race equipment is only safer if all the same saftey rules are employed as in a racer. You can't compare the two. How many racers have their girlfriend chucking a bag of shopping on the rear cabin floor before driving off, crushing the fuel line in the process? If you build a tube through the car to take the fuel line then it isn't in the passenger cabin any more. But then how are you going to make that look good? As I said, just my opinion.

[Yeti]

Hmmmm, i can see this is going to be a b*stard....

I think i will run them Im a pipe covered with heat proofing next to the exhaust. Im moving the gearchange inside........ but the heat proofing isn't that good from what I've been told.


I always keep a fire extinguisher in the car. But after what you said Dan, about your friend (I hope he is okay now). Im really going to have to sit down and work this out 100%. And it does't have to look good if you can't see it.



Cheers for the help guys. If I do move the brake/fuel lines, I'll take photo's and make a thread for it.



Mr Benn

[samwell]

im sure one of these guy will cut me down but u might want to be careful how close you run those lines to the zorst, probs not for the fuel unless u using special one with a low flash point (high or low octane - cnt memba) but if u overheat the brake fluid, any moisture in in the lines can boil and cause a loss of braking.

samwell

[icklemini]

Considering ALL racing cars have the fuel lines inside the car

not ALL of them do...