Demo Derby Prep
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Joined: Jul 2004
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Demo Derby Prep
Well I'm taking the old family grocery getter our 1990 Ford Taurus Station Wagon and turning it into my derby car for the county fair. I need to disconnect the air bag so it doesn't go off. Does anyone know how I can disconnect it? I also need to rig up a 5 gallon metal container to use for a gas tank. If anyone has any ideas let me know. Thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
Pull the airbag completely, you don't want any chance of it going off. Depending on the rules of your local organization, you will need a vertical pole behind the driver's seat, a cross brace in the same location, and heavy beams down each side of the car as protection. You also want to dent in the roof at the rear of the car pretty good, so the rear end will bend up instead of down when it gets hit. Generally, you strip the car of everything it doesn't need to function, put a piece of chicken wire over the windshield opening, and put the fuel tank where the rear seat was.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 13,589
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From: NW burbs of chicago
Ive been in 3 derby's My cousins, been in a bunch more. EAch is different. Get a copy of the rules and Regs, they'll tell ya what to strip what to save.
You might wanna use a plastic boat gas tank.
You might wanna use a plastic boat gas tank.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Bored town OH
Well, you could run into a brick wall going about 20 mph, im sure it would go off then! Or you could read some wireing manuals and cut some wires.
As for the gas can you could just buy a 5 gallon racing fuel cell from summit and put it in the trunk and run all the hoses and wires to it. It ain't gotta look good!
As for the gas can you could just buy a 5 gallon racing fuel cell from summit and put it in the trunk and run all the hoses and wires to it. It ain't gotta look good!
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,074
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From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by Schmids4.9l
Well, you could run into a brick wall going about 20 mph, im sure it would go off then! Or you could read some wireing manuals and cut some wires.
As for the gas can you could just buy a 5 gallon racing fuel cell from summit and put it in the trunk and run all the hoses and wires to it. It ain't gotta look good!
As for the gas can you could just buy a 5 gallon racing fuel cell from summit and put it in the trunk and run all the hoses and wires to it. It ain't gotta look good!
LOL!!! I was thinking the same thing. Just run it into sumpin'
On a serious note.............I have no clue how you're gonna make this work.
Your EFI needs a pump to supply around 40 PSI.(as opposed to around 5 psi for a carb) Right now it's IN YOUR FUEL TANK.
I know NOTHING about derby rules..........but if I was a betting man, I'd bet you're not gonna be allowed to run any kind of electric fuel pump........especially at 40psi.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Elkhart IN
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Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: SW VA
I went to a demo derby this past Saturday night. All they required was for all the windows and lights to be removed. Nothing else. Yea...it sure was funny!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Bored town OH
I'd put a roll cage in that bad boy! I talked to this one guy after a demo derby, and he took an old frame and cut it up and welded it on his frame. His station wagon has been thru 7 demo derbys, and he said after a few hours of work, he'd be in the next one.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
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From: iowa
go find a fireplace grade and put it in the drivers door and for a little more safety fill the door with quickcrete that way it won't smash in on you.
Air bag I would pull it completely off the steering when cutting wires or unplugging hte modulale is a very, very bad idea cause if you get hit wrong, and a wire shorts out somewhere else, and touches that terminal it will go off. infact then working on them we used to have to be grounded to the vehicle via a grounding strap at all times that any wires in the system were disconnected several mechanics have been killed by that.
Air bag I would pull it completely off the steering when cutting wires or unplugging hte modulale is a very, very bad idea cause if you get hit wrong, and a wire shorts out somewhere else, and touches that terminal it will go off. infact then working on them we used to have to be grounded to the vehicle via a grounding strap at all times that any wires in the system were disconnected several mechanics have been killed by that.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
Originally Posted by dorkpunch
itseasy.... DISCONNECT the battery (this is a VERY IMPORTANT STEP IF YOU DONT WANT A BROKEN NOSE/BLACK EYES) pop the tabs on the sides of the wheel, unbolt, pull out, and unplug.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
Actually, the derby here requires an electric fuel pump so the car can be shut off that way. They also require that the battery be moved inside with a quick disconnect, so that can be pulled and shut down the electrical.