[4-door Chevelle]

My son bought a car that we will be racing this summer. It has a nitrous system in it and I have no idea what the rules are regarding nitrous. The bottle is mounted right behind the drivers seat and there is no relief valve of any sort. It seems the bottle should have some sort of wall between it and the driver and I think there has to be a relief valve that exits outside the car. There is a fire extinguisher in the car.

What all do we need to do to pass inspection for drag racing? Can I just disconnect the bottle if we choose not to use it and still be legal?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Twilightoptics]

If the bottle is mounted in the passenger compartment, a Blow down tube must be installed to vent the gases out of the compartment in the even the bottle rumptures.

It must also be mounted securely with two brackets.

I doubt right behind the seat would fly even with a blow down tube.

That's just what I know, I'm sure there is more.


And if they don't think it's safe, they'll make you take the bottle out and they'll keep it in their storage until you finish racing N/A.

 

[novaracer]

I have raced with my Nos bottle mounted behind my seat for 3 years, 1st year did not have any ext. vent on the bottle (racing local tracks no problems). Last 2 years (did some Pro series racing and racing in CHI) have been running a AN 8 vent out side car with bulk head at floor pan (exiting rearward). I had to get a adpt. for the vent hose NOS does not include this with there kits. Main thing is to get a psi gauge and heater that will help the nitrous alot!
BC

 

[Doug F.]

I believe that is legal with the blowdown tube. I would want to make sure it is mounted very securely to the floor/frame.

Do NOT run without the blowdown tube. If the burst disk blows he can be severly injured.

 

[Pat Kelley]

There was a picture posted here several years ago of a car in which the NOS bottle exploded. The car was demolished and the garage it was in was severely damaged with rather large holes in the walls and roof. Treat it with respect.

 

[Doug F.]

Pat,
No offense meant, but I believe that was a Nitrous Express NITROUS system. NOS is a brand and is not what was in that car.

Every NOS bottle should have a burst disk that should rupture at about 3000 PSI, the bottle can contain much more than that.

I believe that situation you speak of was very hoaky and you would have to have the burst disk plugged and I think they left the bottle heater on or something.


But I do agree with you, you'll have a 1000 PSI gas bottle sitting right next to you in the car. I would never consider that in a car that has much street time.

My nitrous bottle is in the trunk of my street strip car, but if I ever got rear ended I don't think a 16 ga piece of sheetmetal is going to stop that bottle much if the valve broke, but at least I am seperated from the nitrous liquid/gas.

 

[Pat Kelley]

Doug, I was using NOS generically. I don't know what brand it was. However, the damage was severe.

 

[66 283]

If you read and believe all the propaganda you read on the internet you would think nitrous or NX specifically are DANGEROUS and maybe even part of the AXIS OF EVIL.

The guy built the website and tried to blackmail and sue NX but he could not prove fault.

But if truth be known, the idiot who blew up his garage left his bottle heater on with the bottle valve closed and then left the car unattended. MORON. It doesn't matter what the contents of a compressed cylinder are, if you heat it up quickly and modify the burst disk the bottle will explode. (the burst disks are not manufactured by NX and are the same that are used in other pressure vessels)

The bottles are tested usually at 1.5 or 2 times their design pressure so unless you are completely clueless you will not explode one.

 

[Doug F.]

Nitrous bottles and valves also have to pass DOT test specifications.

I have seen a burst disk rupture first hand from a couple of feet away and you definately want a blow down tube if the bottle is in the car (which is a NHRA requirement).