Should I submit this as a Tech tip?


Ecklers Part # 38171 $25.99
Hardware not included

For reference, this part will be called the extinguisher ^

This part will be called the mount ^

Required Tools
Drill. A hand drill will work, you are only going through fiberglass.
1/4 inch drill bit
2 wrenches of whichever size bolts/nuts you use

This is possibly the most important part of the installation. The test fit needs to take several things into account. I am short, and therefore I must have the seat pulled up some-what far. Make sure your test installation is with the seat in the position you drive in. If your girlfriend, wife, or someone else drives your car, make sure they know the fire extinguisher is there before adjusting the seat. If they have to move forward, remove the fire extinguisher first, the bracket and be left in place unless they really need to move forward. The position shown will work for nearly all heights.

Slide your finger under the front of the extinguisher, and hold the mount in place. Remove the extinguisher.

There are eight holes you can use for installation. I chose the two on the center-line. While still holding the mount in place, drill one hole into the seat pan. Install a bolt to hold the mount in place. Now, drill the second hole. This will ensure your holes line up.


Required Hardware
2 bolts 1/4 x 1 inch
2 nuts for 1/2 inch bolts
4 small washers for 1/2 inch bolts
2 large washers to distribute pressure evenly over fiberglass seat pan

Install hardware in this order
1. Bolt
2. Small washer
3. Mount
4. Seat Pan
5. Large washer
6. Small washer
7. Nut

Install extinguisher

Make sure seat doesn't hit extinguisher when it is in your driving position.

The FAA requires that extinguisher assemblies in Aviation have a safety around the extinguisher release, to prevent the extinguisher falling. Most aircraft vibrate a lot, and the extinguishers are mounted on a bulkhead. This is not necessary for your Corvette installation.

However, you can always cut the end off, and you can hardly tell it is there. For now, I am using a cheap zip-tie. The quality of the this tie holds the release shut, but is weak enough that it is easily broken by simply pulling on the release. I will be replacing this with copper safety wire soon, I just didn't have any handy at the time of this installation.

This is how it looks completed, from the pax side. A very nice, clean installation, out of the way, but easily accessible.


[Modified by NoWorries, 1:33 AM 4/4/2002]

 

Yes! That's a nice looking installation. I think I may do it, now I see how nice it looks.

(What's that car in the garage?)

 

I thought about doing that...but what I am now thinking is get an old seatbelt or even a velcro strap. Taking the bottom cusion out....wraping the strap or belt around the front of the seat and fixing the extinguisher like that, then putting the cusion back on...and you can still move the seat forward and back. Nice job

 

For this not inclined to drill, Brey-Krause makes a bracket that bolts to the seat mounts instead. I don't have that piece, but I have their anti-sub belt mounts that they seem like nice stuff...

 

Jon, thats not a bad idea at all, connecting it to the seat. You'd probably have to cut a notch in the seat, but not a big deal. I'm no-where near the car right now, so I can't look at it, but I don't think the seat would install if you just ran a strap around the bracket. But wouldn't be that much work, and you're right, the seat still would be able to move in its full range.

Rich, the car in the garage is my roomates 1964 Chevelle. Its got a 350/350 combination, and a built Dana 44 3.73 is laying on the floor next to it. Fun car for sure. :smash:

 

I've got the one from R-D Racing http://www.r-dracing.com that is a combination center strap mount for a 5-point belt system and fire extinguisher mount.
It mounts to the seat frame and holds the extinguisher up tight to the front of the seat and moves with the seat when the seat is moved front or back. It is also easily removable (whole bracket and fire extinguiser) in about 3 minutes.

It works for me, as I am tall, and the wife is vertically challenged (short!) and we both drive the same car in autocross events.

 

I mounted mine on the storage compartment door behind the passenger seat. It is against the side of the car and lifts up with the operation of the storage compartment door. I used a couple of stainsteel fender washers on the bottom side of the door so the bolts wouldn't pull through the door.

 

I zip-tied mine to the front seat rail. It now moves with the seat if I need to move it forward (almost never). I have a plastic mount though. Installation looks really nice because the bracket is black as well as the seats and carpet. I have a 95 with the sport seats and I drive with the seat all the way back.