Gas Tank Safety 1964-1970 Mustangs

[Boss1Ray]

This is a 2009 article from CBS News. It addresses the drop-in-frame fuel tanks used in 1970 and earlier Mustangs. (and other cars too)

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500164_162-47539.html

Ray

 

[Don C]

They make this sound like some revelation, but it was widely known about back in the late 60s/early 70s during the Pinto fuel tank problems. The solution was to add an aluminum panel between the trunk and the back seat, to seal the passenger compartment off. Other people added a panel above the gas tank. This is also why the 71s and up have the fuel tank hung under the floor of the trunk.

 

[Boss1Ray]

They make this sound like some revelation, but it was widely known about back in the late 60s/early 70s during the Pinto fuel tank problems. The solution was to add an aluminum panel between the trunk and the back seat, to seal the passenger compartment off. Other people added a panel above the gas tank. This is also why the 71s and up have the fuel tank hung under the floor of the trunk.

Yes. Widely known back then does not transfer well to today.

Many who own them now and owned them back when this story was submitted have never heard issues with a Pinto - sorry but very true. They just buy them and drive them.

I mentioned Ralph Nader at a car show about a month ago and no one knew who I was talking about!!!!

Ray

 

[72HCODE]

the pinto is a special case.

the pinto was original suppose to have a Fuel Cell type of fuel tank.

they designed the car around the fact it would have a fuel cell not a fuel tank.

at the last minute before production a bean counter said the fuel cell would eat too much profit and to use a standard fuel tank.

so the designers were told to STFU and put a fuel tank in the pinto designed for a fuel cell.

well you know how that went.

what could of been had ford left the pinto as is during design and implementation would of been a pretty safe small car during the fuel crunch of the 1970s, instead of a never ending rear end explosion joke that resulted in death and maiming of occupants of said car.

now later in production about 2 years in, ford fixed the issue with a rear end impact allowing fuel to get into the cab of the car with a metal plate,,, same issue as the pre 1970 mustangs had with the drop in trunk tanks. so by 1973 the pinto was a safe car, but the stigma stuck. just like the Aluminum engine chevys.

just like when the big 3 tarted up Tucker for making a better car.

 

[luxstang]

I once even saw a video of a crash test with a very early Mustang and you could see the fuel (or whatever liquid was used to do the test) spill all over the interior of the car all the way to the windshield.

 

[Hashem_73]

Fellow members.

greetings.

I am based in Beirut Lebanon. I just bought all original 8000 documented miles 1973 Mustang from United States. Its being shipped soon.

I must ask this regarding the dangeous fuel tank in rear end collisions.

I understand the 73 has No issues regarding the fuel tank rupture in a crash ?

thanks.

 

[Boss1Ray]

Fellow members.

greetings.

I am based in Beirut Lebanon. I just bought all original 8000 documented miles 1973 Mustang from United States. Its being shipped soon.

I must ask this regarding the dangeous fuel tank in rear end collisions.

I understand the 73 has No issues regarding the fuel tank rupture in a crash ?

thanks.

Per the posted story link- you are correct.

Ray

 

[Hashem_73]

Fellow members.

greetings.

I am based in Beirut Lebanon. I just bought all original 8000 documented miles 1973 Mustang from United States. Its being shipped soon.

I must ask this regarding the dangeous fuel tank in rear end collisions.

I understand the 73 has No issues regarding the fuel tank rupture in a crash ?

thanks.

Per the posted story link- you are correct.

Ray

You have more technical details about this ? its good for new Mustang owner to have

 

[Mister 4x4]

If I remember right, the Pinto's tank would be shoved into the differential of the rear axle, causing a rupture and more often than not, a spark, which would ignite the spilled fuel.

The "fix" was some kind of a skid plate installed either on the bottom of the tank or on top of the rear differential designed to deflect the tank as it traveled toward/past the differential, avoiding the rupture/spark condition.

I don't recall if it ever really made a difference or not. I just remember hearing that Pintos would explode if you rear-ended them.

I learned that my wife was actually reading my Mustang Monthlys when after I bought the car and received the issue that had the article "25 Modern Upgrades to your Mustang." One of the upgrades was a fuel tank safety plate for the trunk of '64 1/2s to '70s. She told me I needed to get one of those for mine... to which I explained that it wasn't a concern and didn't need it because mine's a '71.

But Hey! At least she's taken an interest, eh? ::thumb::

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

You guys know me as one of the old farts around here. You can go back to the Model T and Model A the gas tank was in the cowl right in front of you over your feet. All of the VW bugs had a gas tank in the front. My X wife was hit head on by a 65 impala in here 66 VW bug. The impact collapsed the car rupturing the gas tank. The steering column had her pinned in the back seat, car collapsed. The gas tank burst but did not ignite. She had chemical burns from sitting in the car until they could wash out the gas and cut her out. She spent weeks in hospital. The old pick up truck had the gas behind the seat back. It does not matter where you put it there will be an accident that bursts the gas tank. I would like to tell all these do gooders where they can put their law suits. I worked for a lawn equipment company. We had at least 12 law suits at any time. People stick their hands in the discharge to clear grass and cut their fingers off and sue. I think all this BS should stop all it does is increase the cost of goods to the consumer. The companies never pay for anything the consumer pays it all. You have to have so many warnings and cautions on anything today it takes 30 minutes to read them all and nobody does. We live in a world of idiots that have to have signs to tell them that ice will be on the bridge when it is below freezing.

If you get in a car you are likely to die from some reason. The first accident my in law that is highway patrolman investigated was for a piece of scrap metal flying from the road going through the windshield then through the driver and into the back seat. Who is at fault for that one. Got to blame someone.

Got my BP up again.

 

[OLE PONY]

If I recall correctly it was a safety reason that the fuel filler location was moved from the back center to the rear side quarter panels on all model cars. I like the filler on my 73 because I can pull into any lane at the gas station to "fill er up".

 

[Don C]

You have more technical details about this ? its good for new Mustang owner to have

The issue with the pre-1971 Mustang, and others, was that the top of the gas tank was also the floor of the tank. The only thing that separated the trunk from the passenger compartment was the back seat upholstery. If the gas tank ruptured in a collision and burst into flames the flames rapidly spread into the passenger compartment. The solution was to provide a metal barrier between the gas tank and the passenger compartment.

Because 1971 and newer Mustangs have the gas tank under the trunk floor it is separated from the passenger compartment by sheet metal.

 

[Hashem_73]

You have more technical details about this ? its good for new Mustang owner to have

The issue with the pre-1971 Mustang, and others, was that the top of the gas tank was also the floor of the tank. The only thing that separated the trunk from the passenger compartment was the back seat upholstery. If the gas tank ruptured in a collision and burst into flames the flames rapidly spread into the passenger compartment. The solution was to provide a metal barrier between the gas tank and the passenger compartment.

Because 1971 and newer Mustangs have the gas tank under the trunk floor it is separated from the passenger compartment by sheet metal.

So its located just under trunk and still in rear of car near bumpers. In theory a rear end crash would first damage the fuel tank its too near impact zone ?

just thinking out loud.

 

[Gold Rush]

We are lucky the government safety geeks don't outlaw all old cars as unsafe. There are those that believe in safety at any cost and would gladly regulate our hobby out of existence.

 

[Don C]

So its located just under trunk and still in rear of car near bumpers. In theory a rear end crash would first damage the fuel tank its too near impact zone ?

just thinking out loud.

Yes, it doesn't have a lot of protection when rear-ended. And then when you add in the filler spout coming up through the trunk floor (as Mike mentioned)...

 

[secluff]

As Gold Rush stated, it's a wonder all the wonderful people we've put in office in Washington haven't banned anything that doesn't meet present safety standards. The Big Three have all been in Sixty Minutes "Bulls Eye" at one time or another. What ever makes big news. I remember the fuel tank on the 73-87 Chevrolet pick up trucks was mounted on the outside the frame with only the quarter panel to protect it. Of course once the fires and explosion's resulting from accidents on that one made the evening news the Lawyers phones were ringing nonstop.

I know it means nothing to family's that have lost someone, but these cars met all the Government safety regulations at the time of manufacture. There are kits out now to place a safety barrier for cars like the 65-70 Mustang's and other cars with similar fuel tank set ups.

The poor ole Pinto. It really was a good car. America was learning something new about these new smaller cars. Packaging of components was more critical now that there was not as much room to put things as there was on Dad's big ole 65 Galaxie. "Crush" room just wasn't there any more. When hit from the rear at high impact, the tank was being pushed into the differential and the filler pipe was being pulled out of the tank. Mix in some hot exhaust and sparking metal being shredded...Another Sixty Minutes" special.

Ford did come out with a safety recall for the tanks. It added heavy shields, including the critical area in front of the tank, and a longer fuel filler pipe with improved retention so it would no longer pull out when the tank moved in an accident. They also had another campaign where they replaced the fuel cap with a better sealing one. The car continued to sell really well up to 1980 when it was replaced by the Escort.

I believe unless you have access to a army tank, no vehicle is going to be 100% safe. You see cars In NASCAR that are built with the latest in technology, including fuel cells, by teams with unlimited budgets....and you still see fires!!

 

[Boss1Ray]

As Steve (Secluff) mentioned fuels cells - that would probably be a good choice if someone was inclined to change it up.

Ray

 

[will e]

A little lollerz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txcd0u-mppM

 

[73pony]

Great video!