Building a better bulkhead to keep driver and fuel cell separate

Tim
Update by Tim Suddard to the Ford Mustang Fastback project car
Dec 20, 2022 | Ford, Mustang, Ford Mustang, fuel cell, Vintage Race Car, Bulkhead

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Photography by Tim Suddard

Our 1965 Mustang vintage racer’s interior still needed something required by almost every sanctioning body–plus our own sense of self-preservation. We needed to build a bulkhead between the driver compartment and the fuel cell.

Our Mustang came from the factory with the optional fold-down rear seat that facilitated carrying longer items like skis.

Once we removed the rear seat, we still needed to fill that opening. We simply measured, cut and bent a sheet of aluminum.

Once test fitted, we sealed and the riveted this panel in place.

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Comments
IamFODI
IamFODI New Reader
12/20/22 3:54 p.m.

Why not take the opportunity to fab up a stiffening wall?  Something like this, but a steel plate instead of a fancy-pantsy CF piece:

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/e9x-2008-2013/82306-diy-slonik-e9x-cf-reinforcement-panel

kb58
kb58 UltraDork
12/20/22 5:44 p.m.

Stainless steel, as is used in private aircraft.

759NRNG
759NRNG PowerDork
12/20/22 7:02 p.m.

Sorry, but I can't help from fixating on the dimple in the DS rear wheel well .......factory????

BA5
BA5 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
12/20/22 8:19 p.m.

What did you guys use for sealant? I found some firewall stuff, it's not particularly expensive. 

I'm about to do the firewall on my project, so this is timely. Mine is a little different because is a mid engine conversion, so there will be more ignition sources behind it.

Tom1200
Tom1200 UberDork
12/20/22 9:23 p.m.

This is what we did on the Datsun......the picture is terrible but gives you the general idea.

OHSCrifle
OHSCrifle GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
12/21/22 9:15 a.m.
IamFODI said:

Why not take the opportunity to fab up a stiffening wall?  Something like this, but a steel plate instead of a fancy-pantsy CF piece:

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/e9x-2008-2013/82306-diy-slonik-e9x-cf-reinforcement-panel

It will be interesting if GRM Tim drives the Mustang in a track event and then checks the panel to see if there are signs of flexion. Running a couple dimples in the flat sheet like that CF panel you linked (to stiffen it up) seems like a useful thing - unless it is considered an illegal chassis mod. 

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