Hey guys,

After seeing a comment by Nik (SR20Datsun) about fibreglass dashes splintering and impaling people in accidents, it got me to thinking.

I have seen several race cars with fibreglass dashes, why is this not a safety restriction?

Are you telling me I am goign to have to make my entire dash out of T6061? Grrr.

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Possibly because you are much less likely to contact the dashboard when held in by a proper harness as opposed to an ordinary seatbelt...

_________________
1971 Datsun P510 SR20DET 276 rwkW
2005 Mercedes AMG E55 350 kW
1969 Datsun P510 L20B EFI 95 rwkW
1975 Ford XB Fairmont GS Wagon 179rwhp
1980 Escort Van SR20DET unfinished
2002 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa 185hp

Good point. I was more thinking about the movement of the chassis splintering the dash and it flying apart in all directions. But that also is reduced in race cars with proper roll cages.

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Yea that's true as well... Personally I reckon a nice aluminium dash looks the goods anyway I doubt there would be much of a weight difference in the end.

_________________
1971 Datsun P510 SR20DET 276 rwkW
2005 Mercedes AMG E55 350 kW
1969 Datsun P510 L20B EFI 95 rwkW
1975 Ford XB Fairmont GS Wagon 179rwhp
1980 Escort Van SR20DET unfinished
2002 Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa 185hp

While we are on the topic, would carbon fibre fall into the same category for danger etc?

Guest dude! Welcome to Ozdat

Carbon fibre is worse, depending on how you lay the fibre. I don't know whether you have seen any carbon fibre bikes breaking, but they split into shards... Not a nice think to have in the interior when you are in an accident.

Particularly if you are headbanging to Pantera (et al.)

For street legal cars, most automotive engineers will not sign off on carbon dash's or fibre glass. If they are fibreglass, they have to have the equivalent foam padding over the top of them.

_________________
1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

Triumph used papermache in their dash years back.
worked ok.

_________________
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
www.datsport.com

"R.I.P. Baz. 29 April 2022. Thank you for all your contributions to the Datsun community over the years. You will be missed." - OZDAT

A good friend's old man did a very comprehensive build up of an MGB converted to V8 with a carbon fibre dash. It also had Wolf 3D in it AND passed thru Regency Depo. I still don't know how they were allowed to get the aftermarket EFI thru, let alone the CF dash. Then again, they do MG ground up rebuilds and LHD conversions for a living.

You just saved me $300.

Well I think i'll go the alu route just to be safe. I can think of nicer ways to die (like not at all).

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

to all those interested in $aving $ome Money...
Paper mache, covered in foil and then buffed... know one will know lol

_________________
"Stroked is fun, but I'ld rather get blown"
"Redlines are merely suggestions"

my shrinking garage is down to.....
2x 1600s
1x GQ Tray back
1x 300ZX
1x FZR600

And how will well will I be able to get under it to mount my gauges and ECU? Oh and how safe will that be sitting on a tranny tunnel that gets awfully hot?

Sounds like a dangerous, dodgey idea to me, if sort of comical.

Dave

_________________
USA Daily: 2014 Nissan GT-R, very minor modifications for the track
USA Project: 1978 280Z, minor suspension upgrades, VK56DE conversion in progress. SOLD
AUS Race Car: 1973 240Z, L28ET, Autronic, GT35R. SOLD
AUS Project: 1972 1600, 3200km old S15 SR20DET, ground up rebuild. SOLD

Not to mention a good way to get the wife and kids involved in the build.

Don't let them fill it with candy, though; it'll distract the fire crew when you crash.

Serious. even the transtunnel was papermache.
Its much less likely to fire up than plastic & vinyl.

_________________
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
www.datsport.com

"R.I.P. Baz. 29 April 2022. Thank you for all your contributions to the Datsun community over the years. You will be missed." - OZDAT

They made boats out of papermache too.
http://kcupery.home.isp-direct.com/SH.html

_________________
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
www.datsport.com

"R.I.P. Baz. 29 April 2022. Thank you for all your contributions to the Datsun community over the years. You will be missed." - OZDAT