Hey Guys,

There are two things on my truck that I intend to do contrary to the recommended method. I realize that safety is paramount, but I have considered both and find them to be acceptable risks using the information I have. If anybody has any solid input as to why I shouldn't do either of them let me know.

First, I am running a mechanical fuel pressure gauge INSIDE the cab. I will be using high quality fittings and steel braided lines to reduce the likelihood of a leak. I could use an isolator, but they are expensive, and I want a direct fuel pressure reading from the regulator.

Second, I am mounting the Nitrous bottle behind the seat. NOS recommends against this. I assume because a leak could impare your judgement. Nitrous, however, has an odor added to it so it should be immediately detectable. In that event I plan to simply stop the truck and solve the problem.

Any input?

-Scouder

 

Definitely stop the truck after you detect a nitrous leak but there's no hurry to get out! Why waste the N2O? Just kidding. As long as you run high quality fuel line you should be fine. Its not like you are running a 60psi injection system. If the fuel sprays just shut the pump off. You are running a fuel pressure safety switch for the nitrous right? That would have the nitrous shutoff before you knew what was going on.

 

IMHO......If you never have a passenger with you and you have no dependents, do what you want... However there's a reason that 'they' recommend against plumbing raw gasoline under pressure into the cab of a vehicle, it 'could be dangerous'. Things do go wrong. I feel the same way about mechanical oil pressure guages. If you've ever had one fail while the engine is running, you'll know what I mean. The oil was a hot mess, gas would have been somewhat more interesting! Any fuel burns at a higher rate when sprayed or atomized and a gasoline leak under a dash, spraying on the wiring under there would most certainly cause a fire that would be closer to an explosion. As for the nitrous, I'd be afraid that your judgement might be affected before you realize that there is a problem. I'm wondering if you've been sniffing too much no2 to even propose these questions. I'm not flaming, just expressing my opinion. :^)

 

DO NOT install inside
the nitrous will take you out in seconds and you will DIE
when you get medical nitrous it is mixed with 50 percent medical grade
oxygen

 

I agree. If you need to check you fuel pressure, you can temporarily hook up the mechanical gauge in the cab. Drive it once, carefully, until you determine it is ok, then unhook it.

Dont put the nitrous in the cab. What happens when you get in an accident? That 10lb nitrous bottle turns into a 200lb grenade, rocketing through the seat, any passengers therein, and exploding when it crashes into something. The cab is then flooded with nitrous. Not fun. You have plenty of room under the hood, put it there.

Better safe than dead.

 

I am intrigued by the vehement negative opinions on the nitrous. keep in mind that they do recommend mounting it in the trunk. Isn't the trunk also a part of the cab of a car? Are you saying that nitrous won't leak into the passenger compartment even from the trunk? Will the back seat of a car stop a hurtling nitrous bottle in the event of a wreck? What about a hatch back or station wagon? Where do they put it? As to dying in seconds from leaking nitrous, gimme a break. It would take an explosive depressurization of the bottle to leak that much nitrous into the cab, and this bottle is plumbed with a blow down valve that is vented outside the cab. At most the system would have a fitting leak, which would be easily detectable, and that is only when the valve is open, which would be very rare indeed. And 66 Ranger, the first part of your post is an opinion, and I appreciate it, but proposing that I have been sniffing N2O is not an opinion it's a provocation, and we don't need it on this board.

The fuel gauge is the only part of this post that actually does cause me concern because of the nature of the problem IF it does go wrong. That concern is muted somewhat by the fact that I have been using quality fittings and hose for oil and fuel since 1983 and have yet to have a failure. And by the fact that many of you guys are driving around with the entire fuel tank in the cab with you without any issues. But I am still thinking on it. A fire inside the cab could get serious in a hurry.

-Scouder

 

That, by the way is the only other place I am considering for the nitrous. Protected, shaded, and easy to get to. Right where the old battery tray used to be. Actually, the more I think on it as I write this, the more I like that location. I'm gonna go set it up there to see if it fits.

-Scouder

 

i agree putting the nitrous bottle behind the seet isnt much different than stuffing it in the trunk or a hatchback, if the bottles going to blow for some reason your good as dead no matter where the bottle is located, ive seen nitrous bottles bolted in the back seets of cars, whats the difference, i also agree the fuel gauge in the cab may be a little risky, but with high quality hoses, fittings, guage, i wouldnt worry much about it. do what you think is safest and best scouder, good luck man

 

Scouder, you need to learn to look for a little humor in life, otherwise you turn into a grump. Didn't you see :^)???? Good gosh, lighten up.

 

I'm not comfortable with the gasoline-in-the-cab thang.
Even though you have high quality components and a very good track record, there's just something a step better in having mulitple levels of protection. Sort of like making sure the pistol is not loaded AND never pointing it at someone. The 1 in 10,000 failure rate of some components may get you. There's even a chance that the gauge could have a factory defect or long term fatigue fracture. Or someone else doing a repair and not being as careful as you in tightening everything.

Just my concerns. I may be over-reacting, but now that I'm a parent, I look at things more cautiously.

Good luck on firing that beast up. I just got my 390 going today.

 

Sorry about that. It's easy to misinterpret the written word. Should have noticed the smiley. I take it back.

-Scouder

 

OK, thanks to the suggestion by Rusty70F100 the Nitrous is in the engine compartment. It didn't go well on the old battery tray location, but it fits on the driver side inner fender like it was meant to go there. I like everything about it better than behind the seat except the potential for theft and the fact that I have to open the hood to turn it on, unless at some point I get a bottle opener. Some things you just have to live with.

Fuel. I'm gonna think on it some more.

-Scouder

 

You can get high quality (accurate) electronic pressure transducers and digital readouts. They may be costly but your safety may be worth it.

 

I provide my opinion with NO experience with nitrous and little experience with fuel:

You aren't the average kid with nitrous mounted on the pillar of your Civic for the purposes of looking "cool." As well, your truck is a few steps above most any car you'll see on the road on any given day. That said, you can't really compare your plans to convention.
That said, (and I don't need to tell you), only you can decide. We aren't gonna ride in or drive your truck - you're the one who will be in the 700Hp, 4500 pound brick flying down the quarter. ...I would, however, recommend you consider all possibilities - if something fails in the cab, nitrous or fuel, you're gonna be what you're gonna be, but where will your family be left? Gotta have the hubby/daddy around to keep things in order. : )

So, for whatever that's worth, do what is going to keep this project top-notch while still remaining safe enough to drive down the street any time, any day.

-Patrick

 

Not as expensive as it could be by not using one. (Know what I mean Vern? )
My life was based on Murphy's Law

As for the nitrous in the cab, I don't feel it would be any more dangerous than the factory fuel tank.
You could always build a steel box for the bed, maybe nice shiny diamond plate aluminum, with a locking end or top, to put your bottle in.
This way you could bolt the box to the bed from the inside, and lock it up to protect the bottle. Run a hole through the bottom, so it will run through the bed and under the cab.