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Just wanted to make sure that popping out the Ski Bag panel in my rear seat sheetmetal was legal (it’ll make things easier to run cool suit hoses from the trunk).
I would assume that it counts as interior trim / or doesn’t matter as it was a dealer option to install the bag in place of that panel and the armrest, but I just want to be super sure before I bang away with the hammer.
:whistle:
I don’t have a definitive answer, but something to consider is this rule from the CCR. It requires that the bulkhead be sealed around the rear down bars so I wonder whether they would allow a big open hole. If you have a fuel cell they would likely be stricter.
cheers,
bruce
[quote]15.6.11 Rear Braces
The main hoop must have two (2) braces extending to the rear. The braces shall be attached as near as possible to the top of the main hoop, and no more than six (6) inches below the top. The braces must not contain any bends. There must be at least 30 degrees between the plane of the main hoop and the plane of the rear braces. The main hoop rear braces shall be installed to form no more than a one hundred five (105) degree angle or no less than a seventy-five (75) degree angle with the main hoop when viewed from the top. The main hoop braces may be mounted at the rear shock mounts or uspension pickup points (providing that the braces remain in compliance with all other sections of the CCR). They may go through any rear bulkheads provided the
bulkhead is sealed around the cage braces.[/quote]
My center panel has a hole about 1" in diameter from the factory. I would think yours does too. Would that not work for your coolsuit hoses?
I don’t see the purpose of sealing up the rear bulkhead around the tubes since the fuel tank isn’t behind the bulkhead and there’s 5-10 holes in various places around the bulkhead from the factory that don’t require sealing by the rulebook. I duct taped the area around the tubes with duct tape, but I don’t know what that’s going to stop from coming through.
I would think that the "sealing" idea is a general rule in case the fuel tank or cell is located in the trunk. If the car takes a big hit from the rear, they don’t want fuel spashing forward onto the driver.
To satisfy the NASA folks, I would take a few minutes to pop rivet or self drilling sheet metal screw a plastic or alum. panel over any significantly large opening.
Carter
Huh - I just noticed this thread. My ski panel was gone when I got the car, so I assumed they all came from Germany with that hole already there. Never heard anything about it from NASA, btw.