What happens to Panther Cars in high-speed rear impact

[V10_P70]

The gas tank is in the same location for the CV, GM and MM. On the P71 CV, the car is being hit at speeds upto 120 mph. You can look at what happens to a CV being hit at 82 mph at this site:

www.firepanelllc.com/frameset.html

[Logan]

Yeah, don't forget, the P71's gas tanks is also alot larger than the civvie unit. Which makes for alot tighter quarters behind the rear axle.

[V10_P70]

The gas tanks for CV, GM and MM are all the same unit. 19 gallons gasoline.

[cyled]

Part of the issue was the shock mounts. That was supposely one of the fixes. If you notice now the 2003 panthers they are now moved to the outside. For better stability of course

[MAD-3R]

What happens to a panther platform at 120 MPH?

THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS TO ANY CAR AT 120MPH!!

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by V10_P70
The gas tank is in the same location for the CV, GM and MM. On the P71 CV, the car is being hit at speeds upto 120 mph. You can look at what happens to a CV being hit at 82 mph at this site:[/url]

And your point is?

[Logan]

I read the PI gas tank is 25 gallons.

[SergntMac]

Sorry Logan, I gotta step in here, because I still don't get something.

Be it one gallon of gas, or one hundred gallons of gas up my butt, the chief issue here is the overall safety of the Panther platform at high speed impact.

Like it's been said before, crush 2/3rds of any automobile into it's last 1/3rd, and something should blow. Blow up, blow out, or, become explosive, like from plain old compression hell, even water is explosive at a particular rate of compression...Damn the burn, what is the point here, anyway?

Yo...V10 something, you were saying?

[V10_P70]

By looking at the general stats the panther platform cars are quite safe. They confirm to the FMVSS safety standards and Ford goes above and beyond this to 50 mph test. With the car having the tank in the rear and the higher speeds the cars are run to, one would look to see what options exist for additional safety when the vehicles are driven hard. Meaning nine tenths of their capability.

A miltary fire suppression system that has existed for 30 years is available for this car to prevent the problem of fire in the car. We test at speeds up to 160 mph and look for all the safety features to insure that the driver walks from the car. This means brakes, driveshaft, springs, shocks, sway-bars, cooling systems need to be addressed. Just trying to pass on ideas that we use.

Here are the facts on the P71 Crown Victoria:

www.fleet.ford.com/products/specialty_vehicles/2003_Police_Interceptor.asp

[Marauderman]

When two metals collide--the result will most likely be a spark--the faster they collide the quicker the spark--add a flammable to air mixture around it and you sure to have --BOOM!! It doesn't take a collision of high speed necessarily to cause this....a spark, a flammable mixture in air and the substance around it all to sustain it beyond the air mixture ,i.e. material to free burn after iginition---tires, cloth/leather seating/ material in vehicle.....all the same stuff in and around our daily lives every day ...just the right combo of physicis (without getting detail)--heat, fuel and air----BOOM!!! add the other and it continues to all is gone!!! p.s--water boils--turns to steam---that can also burn you!!!!!

[Strider74]

Hey Guys,
As an insurance agent I can definitely say that the Marauder and all of its variants (Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, etc.) are some of the safest cars on the road. But if you get hit by anything doing 120mph you’re going to have some issues.

[RCSignals]

no fire

http://tpps.das.state.or.us/surplus/327234-7.jpg

http://tpps.das.state.or.us/surplus/327234-1.jpg

[RCSignals]

This is also a good site http://www.cvpi.com

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by V10_P70
A miltary fire suppression system that has existed for 30 years is available for this car to prevent the problem of fire in the car. We test at speeds up to 160 mph and look for all the safety features to insure that the driver walks from the car. This means brakes, driveshaft, springs, shocks, sway-bars, cooling systems need to be addressed. Just trying to pass on ideas that we use.


Ahhh...now I get it. You're trying to sell us something we don't need.

Find me an exhaust system that will produce 20-25 HP over my present numbers, and I'll gladly share some coins with ya...

Thanks anyway, V10_P70

[cyclone03]

you know when pintos where catching fire when rear ended everybody blamed the tank location too.
I think all mid sized,and maybe most cars from mid 50's to about 73 all had fuel tanks that were part of the trunk floor or even behind the seat in trucks.The gas was RIGHT there!
The REAL problem with the Pinto was it's SIZE or lack of, that caused it big problems.Just about EVERYTHING on the road was MUCH bigger,so when it got hit,well it lost!

The Panther platform that is our Marauder excedes all federal crash test in place when it was produced.
Unless they add a "parked on side of the road and rear ended at 80mph test" I dont see much need to worry about how this car will hold up when slammed like that.

Unless you want to crawl over a NASCAR style roll cage evertime you jump in your car to go get a Big Gulp,oh after putting on your 3 layer suite,fire proff long undies,gloves and shoes and full face helmet,then buckeling up you 6 piont harness,I don't think your going to do much better.

I've said this before,when the subject comes up.
DON'T PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY!

[Logan]

I'm with cyclone on this one...

Wait, I've got it! Just replace the gas with carrot juice! That'll solve the problem! Now all we need is a motor that runs on carrot juice.

[Billatpro]

But Logan, remember! like Sarge say's, even water when compressed will explode!! can you imagin the mess the carrot juice would make? no I'd much rather have orange juice, you would still have mess but it would taste better.

[RCSignals]

some people won't be happy until Ford folds the Panther platform tent completely. Most sites like the ones below are by trial lawyers looking for business.

http://www.autosafety.org/ActionAlerts/CrownVic/runge9-26.htm

and

http://www.autosafety.org/ActionAlerts/CrownVic/azag9-26.htm

If these standards are extended to all Crown Victorias, Grand Marquis, and Town Car (they omit the Marauder for some reason) they should be extended to every passenger car manufactured today, and dating back to at least 1992 as well.

[RCSignals]

These are some stills grabs from video ve shot by Paul Anderegg for the news. Police Car crashes.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TADYAkEXxYbwn97Tybyiywak19mJu fcFOQ3uiUs6izR5H9tssDObW3NUIVw NyJLhg*Ux6ofgs65BiyOqMBWhKuuVa n0b!xAy!SBsSimuZAZ6!gyqH9XRww/CrashedPI04.jpg

LAPD cruiser in tree during pursuit.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TADeAkMXRYfwn97Tybyiy6XAme1Fc ahiF2zh374I4eMt2u!jsh3qIrrcwsB KcVUTeb2Kfl3xwuvrXHyTPpQiX1rdf XYRu0EXT1HJ5GlA2UG4gEpJxhRghQ/CrashedPI06.jpg

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TADeAkQXhYfwn97Tybyiy60jv!EVs CSSwkH*yU1fZQFIc8bzpn2Fd9otBO! BnbBnWgo8m4Nt1faJKWBf6mpxf1jBH eHPVHgzkjxTBzjJfV3MEHGZFYQwvQ/CrashedPI07.jpg

LAPD cruiser looses control speeding.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TADXAkIXBYfwn97Tybyiy2lDS6kT! OT1KW6RWh194VQdC8Itk7sY4Kk*!Pe 7g66f7gxWhJ*ySXBo8huuXbfWO*INu gAe5AUNBD4*3RF!In0owQfBMeIwxA/CrashedPI05.jpg

LAPD Caprice patrol car hit by DUI driver.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TADeAkUXxYfwn97Tybyiy30uXCOkT FU6WqZaABb7O2vXWHjVrXSB3x51NVJ VIgGscM2iyoqmPTnIz3l1yaeNkoTx0 yZ3EaPwiVYILmHKqiEFWinHu9KHzw/CrashedPI08.jpg

LA Sheriff unit crashes during chase.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TADeAkAXhYbwn97Tybyiy*DcNlaw0 VcKFa3Dul3KREwVHVj8RDnVwL*niJX RxA5zXp5AhTA7WZxZhzXy7qujRwW9F bLG6Hn5GW8RUQHqyUclj7yzKehGgA/CrashedPI03.jpg

LA Sheriff cruiser hits hydrant and civilian.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TADeAj4XBYbwn97Tybyiy8R5ZhCiE kT!XsEg!Sn8N3mpsw254ft0ZJl36QV m3PYVOGkVL6Wpzjw0MdwtrAUEULPMj RZErHFoCgKs1Uyug4E2zd4PnyNEFA/CrashedPI01.jpg

Fatal PI crash not by Paul.

[SergntMac]

So the tree huggers are hugging panthers now, eh? Can't be an activist without an activity.

I've been in some wrecks over the years, good ones, and I have to say that I feel the safest in a FMC product, on and off duty. Fire aside, I'd be lucky to survive getting whacked in the fanny at highway speeds.

[RCSignals]

cyclone is correct, however the Caprice/Impala SS had the gas tank under the trunk floor, directly between the bumper and rear end up until '96.
The tank in the Panther cars is well behind the trunk, mostly above the rear axle. It takes an extremely high energy rear impact to drive the rear of the car forward enough to crush it

[Logan]

I think it's safe to say you get rearended at highway speeds in most vehicles and you'll be lucky to survive, explosion or not.

[V10_P70]

Just trying to show what options are available for the Panther line of vehicles. Have posted about driveshaft and its safety. Have tried to indicate by using the FirePanel, you are incorporating technology that even Nascar uses.

You are all interested in making the vehicle faster, why not safer in the process? Several posts talk about driveshafts, chips and gears. What about safety issues?

[RCSignals]

Off topic question Do you have a P70?

[V10_P70]

This is the current project that we are working on. It is 6" longer, back of the B pillar.

http://www.fleet.ford.com/products/specialty_vehicles/2003_taxi_heavy_duty.asp

[metroplex]

Beleive it or not, my 81 t-bird has a polymer shield for the gas tank along with shock bolt covers. The shield is directly in the back of the differential cover, and the shock bolt covers are aimed at the gas tank so in case the tank does move, the shock bolts won't puncture it, and the differential bolts + assembly won't puncture the tank.

So how is that the VIcs are now getting a "new" gas tank kit?

I saw the $80 kit for the 98-02 Vics, its 2 plastic shields for the axles, 3 rivets + foam blocks for the evap canister, and a shield for the bottom bolts on the differential.

I'd take the 2 plastic axle shields + a polymer shield for the gas tank. Everything else looks useless.