Building a better bulkhead to keep driver and fuel cell separate

Sponsored by

Ford Mustang Fastback

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.

More like this

Comments

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

Stainless steel, as is used in private aircraft.

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 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 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 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.