VintAGE-Vans

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BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER.... A's, G's & E's


+15
Eagle1
Big W
66BC
ChevyVanMan1
Digz
jrinaman
RodStRace
white-lightning
Twinpilot001
63chevyvan?
Scott
G-Man
slowrider
bugeye bob
Staypuff68
19 posters

    Staypuff Fire damage

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    Staypuff68


    Number of posts : 28
    Location : Fort Lee
    Registration date : 2011-03-02

    Staypuff Fire damage Empty Staypuff Fire damage

    Post by Staypuff68 Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:30 am

    Here are the photos of the fire damage to My beloved 68 handi-bus, "Staypuff"

    Note to all, DO NOT use the clear inline fuel filter they sell at Advance Auto. It was the point of failure that caused the fire.[img][/img]Staypuff Fire damage Browseimages
    bugeye bob
    bugeye bob


    Number of posts : 383
    Location : atlanta georgia
    Age : 68
    Registration date : 2009-02-02

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    Post by bugeye bob Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:41 am

    staypuff your picture didn't post but hope the fire wasn't to bad but a good warning to the rest of us as i was thinking of putting one on the van if you are talking about the glass ones, i use to use them on my gto back in the day. guess i'll stick to the metal sealed one i have on there now
    slowrider
    slowrider


    Number of posts : 111
    Location : northern wisconsin
    Registration date : 2011-07-15

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    Post by slowrider Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:07 pm

    Sorry to hear abought your fire,hope it wasnt too bad.I use the clear fram filters and was wondering whatcaused the failure?Did it fracture?
    G-Man
    G-Man
    Mayor
    Mayor


    Number of posts : 30743
    Location : Fowlerville, MI
    Age : 63
    Registration date : 2008-05-06

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    Post by G-Man Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:30 pm

    He has the pictures over at VCVC, and have to say hard to see what was a very nice van now all burned up. I'm sure it can be rebuilt but hate to see all his work go up in flames
    Scott
    Scott


    Number of posts : 1651
    Location : Anoka, MN
    Age : 54
    Registration date : 2008-05-20

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    Post by Scott Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:39 pm



    Last edited by Scott on Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
    Scott
    Scott


    Number of posts : 1651
    Location : Anoka, MN
    Age : 54
    Registration date : 2008-05-20

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    Post by Scott Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:42 pm

    I put in an inline glass / metal one that I bought from Oreilly Auto. Looking at this I think I will switch to a metal one.
    Scott
    Scott


    Number of posts : 1651
    Location : Anoka, MN
    Age : 54
    Registration date : 2008-05-20

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    Post by Scott Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:52 pm

    So, whats the plan?

    Are you going to do a restore on it?
    avatar
    63chevyvan?


    Number of posts : 125
    Location : Oregon
    Registration date : 2010-01-16

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    Post by 63chevyvan? Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:24 pm

    Sorry for your loss. Doghouse temps run higher than other engine compartments because they are so small. Neoprene hose should not be used anywhere in the doghouse. For safety, use a metal filter back at the gas tank.
    Twinpilot001
    Twinpilot001


    Number of posts : 6186
    Location : spokane ,Wa.
    Registration date : 2009-09-28

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    Post by Twinpilot001 Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:53 pm

    Hey Scott- what steering column is in the van??
    white-lightning
    white-lightning


    Number of posts : 237
    Location : Salem, Va
    Registration date : 2011-02-24

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    Post by white-lightning Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:57 pm

    I never realized a carb would melt like that. Not the first time I have heard of one of those glass filters breaking either, and unfortunately won't be the last. I almost had my dd catch fire Friday, a fuel rail bolt broke and lost fuel pressure and died, but not until all the fuel had spray all over the engine bay.
    RodStRace
    RodStRace


    Number of posts : 3046
    Location : Chino Valley
    Registration date : 2010-01-21

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    Post by RodStRace Wed Aug 24, 2011 6:38 am

    I warned people here about these filters a while back and was shot down by a few members. I hope that this fire will serve as a warning that glass filters are bad news. Here is an example. They also flow terribly.
    Staypuff Fire damage 41suZCZ7t4L._SL500_AA280_
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    Staypuff68


    Number of posts : 28
    Location : Fort Lee
    Registration date : 2011-03-02

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    Post by Staypuff68 Wed Aug 24, 2011 6:50 am

    The filter was a plastic one by purolator. In VA we run ethenol gas, I think the combination of a crappy product and crappy fuel is what did the van in. I am going back to a hard metal line and a filter in the carb.

    She will rise again from the ashes. The fire was a mixed blessing. I will now take her down to bare metal do it right. I am think a blue flame motif....
    Scott
    Scott


    Number of posts : 1651
    Location : Anoka, MN
    Age : 54
    Registration date : 2008-05-20

    Staypuff Fire damage Empty Re: Staypuff Fire damage

    Post by Scott Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:05 am

    Twinpilot001 wrote:Hey Scott- what steering column is in the van??

    uh, It looks like an automatic..

    Not my van.
    Smile
    avatar
    Staypuff68


    Number of posts : 28
    Location : Fort Lee
    Registration date : 2011-03-02

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    Post by Staypuff68 Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:56 am

    It is an automatic with a powerglide.
    jrinaman
    jrinaman


    Number of posts : 890
    Location : zelienople,pa.
    Age : 60
    Registration date : 2011-03-10

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    Post by jrinaman Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:02 pm

    had a glass filter on a truck like in rods pic. never could get it to seal.
    Scott
    Scott


    Number of posts : 1651
    Location : Anoka, MN
    Age : 54
    Registration date : 2008-05-20

    Staypuff Fire damage Empty Re: Staypuff Fire damage

    Post by Scott Wed Aug 24, 2011 6:07 pm

    That's the one I have..

    I felt a drip one time when I was pulling the fuel line out of the way. I gave it a good tug to tighten it up and haven’t had a problem since.

    After reading this thread I'm leaning toward a metal one back by the tank. I guess the fuel pump won't have a problem pulling fuel as apposed to pushing fuel through the filter..?
    Digz
    Digz


    Number of posts : 3794
    Location : United States Six Lakes MI
    Registration date : 2008-05-17

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    Post by Digz Wed Aug 24, 2011 6:55 pm

    Ive got a metal one in the back ,, no problems ,, easy to get to also.
    avatar
    63chevyvan?


    Number of posts : 125
    Location : Oregon
    Registration date : 2010-01-16

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    Post by 63chevyvan? Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:56 am

    2X


    63
    Scott
    Scott


    Number of posts : 1651
    Location : Anoka, MN
    Age : 54
    Registration date : 2008-05-20

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    Post by Scott Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:03 am

    63chevyvan? wrote:2X


    63


    Wha?
    avatar
    ChevyVanMan1


    Number of posts : 425
    Location : Your Nation's Capital
    Registration date : 2009-07-19

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    Post by ChevyVanMan1 Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:41 am

    So sorry to hear of your fire. That really sucks.

    Am an old VW guy so I've seen too many. VW always used straight steel line right to the carb. Then of course people would modify with rubber and plastic. Boom.

    And, thinking of that I have a rubber boat fuel line (extra thick, double ply) going to my carb. I think your horror will motivate me to go back to steel.

    Thanks for the heads up. Was that one of those little, transluscent almost conical filters with the two sized ends? I used those for years on lawnmowers and such yet always seemed too cheap and probably too Chinese to use on a vehicle. The Chinese and Israeli filters have almost always leaked. Never a failure with an American or German filter. Getting hard to get tho. I might start hoarding them when I find em.

    Thanks again and sorry for your loss, Mark
    avatar
    Staypuff68


    Number of posts : 28
    Location : Fort Lee
    Registration date : 2011-03-02

    Staypuff Fire damage Empty filter

    Post by Staypuff68 Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:58 am

    The filter was a plastic one, I want to say it had 3/16th fittings on the end. I am trying to look on the bright side, sometimes you are put on the planet simply as a warning to others...
    66BC
    66BC


    Number of posts : 159
    Location : Los Angeles/ Thousand Oaks, CA.
    Age : 46
    Registration date : 2010-01-05

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    Post by 66BC Mon Aug 29, 2011 1:18 pm

    Yeah, I had one of the see through filters until reading on these couple of fires recently including yours. Sorry to hear of that craziness that happened to you. Glad you decided to keep her and make her better. My filter was the glass/metal filter that RodStRace posted up. It looked solid enough. The only thing that didn't look solid enough was that you have to add some plastic fittings to the ends that were included with it inorder to connect it to your fuel lines. It was tough to get a good seal when clamping on the rubber hoses. One side always seemed to leak. I finally got a good seal but I would always go into the doghouse and check just to make sure.I had to play with different fittings and clamps to get it right and dry. I can't see it popping/breaking. The issue I would have with these is not having a good seal at the fitting ends. It was a great filter to be able to see if fuel is flowing through my system especially when I had to diagnose starting/idling issues. But after these posts, I can't take such a risk. I switched the glass filter for a metal/chrome one this weekend. I am keeping the glass filter in storage just as a tool for checking fuel flow in the future. I checked the rest of the system. One other thing I noticed when changing mine was the rubber hose that was connected to the fuel pump and heading back to the tank was touching part of the frame. After inspection, I noticed that rubber fuel line was starting the process of melting through from the heated frame touching it. Glad I caught it before it was too late. That would have been a definite fire. That could be a cause to other peoples fires to. I managed to move the hose a bit so it wouldn't touch anything. I'm thinking of putting a heat wrap or tubing over these rubber lines. Should be something out there right? I thought I saw them. Thanks for the advice and the warning.
    Scott
    Scott


    Number of posts : 1651
    Location : Anoka, MN
    Age : 54
    Registration date : 2008-05-20

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    Post by Scott Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:41 pm

    I hadn't started the van in about a month, went out tonight and the glass filter is leaking pretty bad. I don't know if was the drop in temperature, but I tightened it up and quit trying to start it. Putting in a metal filter near the tank, and a full metal line from the pump to the carb just became a priority.
    Big W
    Big W


    Number of posts : 3282
    Location : Saskatoon,Sask,Canada
    Age : 60
    Registration date : 2011-01-13

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    Post by Big W Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:50 am

    No matter the vehicle, if you can run a steel line, that would be the way to go. The only rubber gas line I have is one small length from tank to frame where a "new" steel line takes it to the front of the van where it stops about 8 inches from the fuel pump. A small length of rubber line from there to the fuel pump. Steel fitted line from pump to carb. Fuel filter is a metal "thread on", spliced into steel line on frame. System has no leaks and no filter under the hood(beside the one in the carb). This system was on my 67 that will now be put on my 66. Motor is a 1981- 350 and there is more then enough heat to melt anything. I to will definatly ride on the side of caution. Sorry again to hear of your fire.
    Eagle1
    Eagle1


    Number of posts : 144
    Location : Prescott, MI
    Registration date : 2010-09-18

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    Post by Eagle1 Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:55 am

    I had the same problem different filter
    Staypuff Fire damage Gas
    Staypuff Fire damage IMG_7742
    Staypuff Fire damage IMG_7781
    Just got her back together, though my fire was not as bad as staypuffs, I used a metal filter.
    Eagle1

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