Dennis Plunkett wrote:
>
> At 12:34 27/07/99 -0700, you wrote:
> >Just for my own rig, myself;  I figure that as I re-do everything on my
> >next Mustang-type car, (Dad found a '68(?) with a decent body), might as
> >well make it something rather fun.  I figure I'll do a complete re-wire
> >job on it, replace brake hoses & lines, etc., why not have the whole
> >beast's controls go digital as well?  That & I'll probably move the
> >battery to the trunk, as that's a healthier place than in the engine
> >compartment...  Could use Fiber Optics, though, might be more "in
> >period" than going completely digital.  I'll see as I get there (I want
> >to definitely improve a few things from stock.)
> >
> >
>
> BUZZT:
> Don't put the battery in the boot, dangerous! Here in Oz you will need to
> get a certificate to prove that the battery will not become an acidic
> missile under crash conditions.
> Audi, place it under the back seat!
>
> Dennis

  (Was going to mention, my lamp modules would probably include fusing
onboard, or just off-board.  Makes perfect sense, that.)

  How is putting it in the trunk dangerous?  If I battery box it in the
trunk, at the front end of the trunk, in a nice strong sealed box,
welded in place, it really should not be any problem;  Battery life's
increased greatly, by being away from the engine heat & water spray
etc.  I always tie down heavy lead objects in cars...  Aircraft
typically do the same exact thing I'm thinking of.

  Sadly, I've seen more than one situation where a battery under the
back seat gets "intimately involved" with seat cushion wires, causing a
fire.  As said seat cushions seemed to burn nicely, I was NOT
impressed.  I feel that batteries belong in a nice hard case <G>

  Don't ask me to carelessly route an oil pressure line (to a dash
gauge), either, as one car I bought (for pretty cheap) right after this
guy re-built it, was cheap because that oil line was air-blown against
the exhaust manifold, melted & sprayed oil onto the nice red hot
manifold, causing a nice oil fire to start;  The fire melted the
(illegal, cheap, plastic) fuel filter, so now the fire REALLY got going,
fueled by both oil & gasoline;  the engine soon quit.  When I got the
car the air filter was crispy, as was most engine wiring, hoses, etc.;
I replaced the air cleaner housing, radiator cap, a few plastic parts &
hoses, re-did the oil sender hose <G>, fuel filter, and all the ignition
wiring & 12v wiring, and suddenly I had a pretty inexpensive running
Wagoneer.  I've done that ONCE, don't want to do it again, particularly.

  Has anyone who's seen the film of the "Kee Bird" (IIRC) disaster?
This expedition rebuilt this aircraft that had sat in the Arctic since
WW2 or so, for 40+ years, only to lose the airplane when the APU
(Auxiliary Power Unit) which wasn't bolted in place properly, broke
loose during the takeoff roll, & set the beast on fire - and (of course)
all fire extinguishers were placed right next to the APU, so
inaccessible.  Horrendously sad to watch from a distance, must've been
really bad to be there in person...  I'd rather not experience anything
like that, personally.  Better to prevent mistakes, when you can, than
suffer their consequences.

  Mark