FIRE IN THE DOG HOUSE

Well guys I get to get the new create motor I wanted but I was going to what till this winter. Yesterday morning started her up and went in the house to get something I forgot and by the time I returned she was a blaze. Have no idea what happen, but what are you going to do, FIX IT!

Holy crap man!
Sorry to see this.
Glad there was no injuries and you didn't loose the van complete.

If there is any way I can help out let me know, parts or whatever.

M1D

I did not get burnt and the exteror is fine just have to find motor, seats and repaint dog house, o ya rewire. I think the carb went crazy an eldabrock, next one will be a 2 barrell

Very sorry to see that eagle, glad you got back in time

glad you got back before the van was junk. the motor should be salvagable with some work but if i wanted to replace it, that would be a good enough reason. i might have a carb and distributor if you decide to fix what you got.

chaec for fuel leaking- floats=?? or fuel line loose? usually fire comes from distributor catching fuel -on fire. Careful when you use the same carb on thhe new engine-check fuel pump for leakage-i just discovered my fuel pump was leaking (spurting) fuel out of the weep hole.

Going to save my money and put a long block in her, might even upgrade the trans to.

man that sucks sorry to hear your bad luck, i my self am haveing a off year

At least the outside still looks great!

glad things are going to be ok for the most part, hang inthere.................

Good to see the damage is only the engine and seats. That could have been a lot worse.

When I bought my first early I thought about that hazard. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

How did you put it out?

Major Bummer Eagle1. Sorry to hear it. I've only had a few carb fires and always worried about a major fire so I've made sure all the fuel fittings were tight, the carb was not leaking anywhere and "Always" keep the air cleaner on tight in case of a backfire....... And a Fire Ext. close by.....

Dan

The day before I went through and tighten all clamps , they were the ones that you can hand tighten

They kept loosening up DON"T USE THEM!!!!!!

A Bad deal= be sure to find the exact cause of the fire- before installing any parts from the old motor!! I m guessing as to where the fire was located -rear of engine area -u will find a cracked/ loose fuel line spurting fuel toward distributor. That or carb floats / need & seat - -some trash??Best next time to run a metal fuel line to carb from fuel pump.

Thinking about a V6 turn key create motor and have to get rid of that 2 speed powergluide. What Trans do you guys suggest? Are there after market crossmembers to fit 2nd gen? and will have to change drive shaft.

I put a 4.3L V6 with a 700R4 behind it into my second gen and didnt need to change the driveshaft. My transmission mounts in the same spot as the TH350 with a hanger that was fabricated for me.

Thanks for the help JC
Eagle1

Really sorry to hear about your fire. I'm an old air cooled VW motorhead so fires are more common there. Usually, it's because somebody replaced German fuel line (self tightening like chinese thumb cuffs) with cheap Chinese rubber. Also, the ethanol in fuel really rots hoses fast--even the alcohol resistant ones. Hence, I try to use German hose where I can and if not the HD stuff they use on boats. Thanks for the heads up on the hand tightening clamps. Didn't know they loosened on their own.

Good luck with the rebuild. Take care and thanks for posting your horror, Mark

Mark I just put all new rubber gas lines on and those junk clamps. But she is getting a 350/290 GM Preformence motor long block with a 50,000 mile warrentee



Dennis

Progress
I am getting everything painted, the motor should be here the 1st of Aug.




I decided on a GM Preformance Motor with a 50,000 mile warrentee. All I have to buy is carb, gaskets, distibutor, wires, plugs, starter, and oil & filter, I think the motor mounts are good, but if I could find the polyurathane inserts would be great. Total should be about $2600, I don't think that is bad for what I am getting.
http://store.gmperformanceparts.com/store/SelectProd.do?prodId=7665&redir=true&manufacturer=GM&category=Engines&name=350/290%20HP%20Economy%20Performance%20Engine%20&model=<!--12499529-->
Only $1995 delivered because the guy that runs the part dept in Detriot has a cabin a few miles north!
Going to keep the PG trans untill tax time and then get a 2004R,any thoughts?
Eagle1

As Rev. Schuler might say: You've really made some lemonaid out of lemons there. Well done. Looks like a really good deal on the crate motor. Should go for about 250K if you use synthetic. GM has it problems but their small blocks were always well made.

And, thanks again for the heads up on the thumb clamps. I'm sure you've saved others from using them and burning up their rides. So thanks again for posting such a cautionary tale. Of course, in the old VW days if you didn't put out one of those magnesium blocks all you could do was watch them burn like the sun. They'd even burn underwater, foam or completely covered by sand.

Glad you did not lose the whole van!
vince

Finally got the motor and ended up recoring the radiator, new carb, MSD Streetfire distriutor, spark plugs, wires, and rewired the engine compartent completlly.




Just have to find some seats and whating for the air cleaner that macthes the valve covers ups, and she back on the road!
Eagle1