Auto Racing: switches, summit racing, safety crew

Question
Hey, a few more questions about the stanza. I need to have an oil sender safety shut off, a fuel shut off valve which i believe i just attach to the feed line and place on the rear firewall?, and a kill switch in the main battery line in reach of the safety crew. What is the best way to go about doing these? thank you again for your help

Answer
Hi again Cole :


Again I will refer you ro Summit Racing , they have all the switching you will need.  There are many others around the ocuntry, but I have always gotten good service from Summit, and their tech guys are sharp.

For your battery cut off, you need to know if it must have an alternator interrupt circuit as well.  If you run an alternator, then a regular cut off switch won't do. The ignition can back feed and leave the motor running even after a safety crew has shut the battery off.  Not a safe situation . If you don't run and alternator, you can use a simple cut off switch.  Wire it with 4 Ga. battery cable and be sure and carefully insulate the connections.  Go ahead and spend the little bit extra for good cable terminals and do it right ! To hook it up, you want to interrupt the battery cable where it runs to the starter solonoid, anywhere on that length is a good place.  

For the fuel shutoff, you probably want a ball valve, they don't restrict the flow, and provide a very secure shutoff.  Again, Summit should have these parts in their cataloging.

I don't quite understand the need for an oil sender safety shutoff, unless they want a shut off valve in the oil pressure sensor line.  Rather than fool with that, I would change to an electronic pressure guage. They're nearly as accurate as the mechanical ones, and are less likely to fail. In all my cars I use electronic guages where I can, it just saves a lot of aggrivation, especially when removing and replacing engines. It reduces the need for a lot of annoying plumbing .

Another 'hose' lecture:  Your fuel hose should be of the Aeroquip AQP type, and the little line that feeds your oil guage should be made up with Aeroquip TFE or the equivalent. Again, it's about YOUR safety. Racing ceases to be fun when you get hurt !!

Those are my suggestions and are based on what I do with my road race cars.

Good luck again !

Dan Liddy