Transmission Tunnel

[proriv63]

Has anyone or is it feasible to fabricate a floor in an FED that will allow use of 3-2A-5 suit instead of using the -15 suit?  I know altered drivers use the -5 suit.  Is the problem that the rear is also in the cockpit?  Your thoughts on rule interpretation?

Thanks,
john

[225digger]

id be curious on this also ,  my motor is like 50" out and plenty of room to make a fire wall .

[masracingtd1167]

I have seen some guy's do this . Just remember that any dragster quicker than 7.50 needs a 3-15 suit anyway. Also any car quicker than 7.50 also need a head and neck restraint.

[225digger]

i thought you need a -20 suit for feds ?   

[GlennLever]

i thought you need a -20 suit for feds ?

My understanding is -20 if it is blown??

[225digger]

i thought you need a -20 suit for feds ?

My understanding is -20 if it is blown??

your right , my misunderstanding ...

""Advanced ET (7.49 or quicker) –

SFI Spec 3.2A/15 Jacket and Pants or suit along with SFI Spec 3.3/5 gloves and boots or shoes.   

If your vehicle runs 7.49 or quicker and is a front engine open bodied vehicle with supercharger, or turbocharger(s), you will need a SFI spec 3.2A/20 jacket and pants or suit along with SFI Spec 3.3/15 gloves and shoes or boots.  An SFI 3.3 head sock or SFI 3.3 skirted helmet is required on all open-bodied cars or all cars 7.49 and quicker, where a neck collar is not used. ""

[ts39256]

Good questions. I too `am wondering about this. The complete SFI-20 suit, pants, jacket, gloves, boots ,helmet, underwear, etc. is big bucks. The plan for my rail will be starting at the 10+ second range. Is putting in flooring just to contain fire and fluids? What is required to completely seal the needed area? Do the altered guys get by because their legs aren`t wraped around the pumpkin?

[Paul New]

My last car I built not my current car I built a transmission tunnel to keep the fire suit to a minimum. Engine was out 39"

[rooman]

The altered deal is easier to do because the top to bottom frame rail dimension is greater than in most fed's so you can put the pedals higher and run the floor/tunnel under them. As mentioned, having the motor further out also allows the use of a firewall between the trans and the driver.

Roo

[wideopen231]

How does transmission tunnel have effect on fire comeing in past windshield? Firesuit is just that FIRE suit it will not stop steel drive shaft or transmission granading. Beiieve me as the HATER of heat(above 60*) I hate my suit when its hot out but love it when the heat turns to flames.

[janjon]

 I had this same question several years ago, before we had this site or Roo as a resource; my thoughts about saving money on a firesuit were identical with respect to whether a tunnel would suffice, rules-wise, anyway. I'm not looking at a rulebook as I type this, but as I recall, the relevant wording, in General Regulations(?), as regards the -20 suit was "...or if the transmission is within the driver's compartment." Which my shorty 'Glide is, totally, at 32" out, even though it's on gas, not blown, and not all that fast. My footsies are alongside the transmission shield but behind the converter and the flexplate shield. It seemed to me that the gooder firesuit would be the bestest in the event of any transmission failure that might let hot ATF try to chicken-fry my chicken-legs. Same reasoning led to the purchase and use of fuel boots, even though not required.

[slingshot383]

It makes things tighter, and you are sitting with your feet higher than your butt, but you can do a tranny tunnel in a FED.  You will also most likely have to add an additional bar above the upper frame rail to protect your knees.