Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

There are a number of recorded cases of early Mustangs and fire that was not contained outside the trunk volume. Maybe not too many, and publicity hasn't been what it was with the Pinto. But the "wrong" one only needs to be a problem once . . .

There is also a sheetmetal panel that can be fitted behind the rear seatback, which also adds some vehicle stiffness - and is probably better at increasing the general chassis torsional stiffness than the tankarmor piece is. Torsional stiffness goes toward being able to tune your handling, so there's some performance benefits to be had. You do give up any "pass-through" capability between the trunk and the passenger compartment. I don't know who makes it, or if it's even still available, but it shouldn't be a very tough DIY fabrication project if it came down to that.


Norm

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

There is also a sheetmetal panel that can be fitted behind the rear seatback, which also adds some vehicle stiffness - and is probably better at increasing the general chassis torsional stiffness than the tankarmor piece is. Torsional stiffness goes toward being able to tune your handling, so there's some performance benefits to be had. You do give up any "pass-through" capability between the trunk and the passenger compartment. I don't know who makes it, or if it's even still available, but it shouldn't be a very tough DIY fabrication project if it came down to that.

Norm

Originally Posted by ozarks06

I have the sheet metal panel too (I'm really paranoid about burning fuel). I got mine from NPD.

Originally Posted by tx65coupe

I've been wanting to get the steel peice that goes behind the seat. How hard it it to install that?

Originally Posted by ozarks06

Pull the back seat, put up the plate, drill a bunch of holes and screw in the sheet metal screws.

There is one thing about it you should know. The large flat steel plate acts like a drum and will amplify the low-frequency exhaust noise inside the car. After I put it in I went back and welded 4 (or 6?) one-foot-long pieces of 3/4" angle steel to the plate in the large open parts to keep it from flexing. I then put sound deadener on it and put a large sound deadening mat behind the seat. That pretty much too car of the problem.