Worst Case, Engine Fire

[cma]

Guys, yesterday i had a engine fire started from the distributor. For luck it burned down only the distributor and all wires and hoses around this area.

I got the information that AMC`s had problems with fuel fumes and the one or other distibutor burned down.

I know now that i will install a extinguisher, it was horrible, the time until i had water to delete it. For luck the fuel sparked not, otherwise she would burned down completly.....

Any other fire victims?

[CTGW]

Wow! Scary for sure. Didnt know that was a problem but i have certainly smelled gas fumes...
Adding a fire extinguisher to the list of necessary parts.

[Don S]

..

Sad to hear of the fire.

Not wanting to bore you here's the story.
In 1988 I had one in Colorado at about 11,000 feet. This was Poughkeepsie Gulch were 4x4s should be at least slightly better than stock. I was pushing that a little bit in my 1976 Waggie. At a steep angle gasoline leaked from bowl gasket down fuel line dripping on tiny exhaust leak. A massive fire erupted from the other pooled leaked fuel before I could move to a more level spot to fight the fire. I jumped out grabbing my new in the box Kiddie fire extinguisher. I popped the hood singeing some unneeded hair. I triggered this beautiful red device. BUT? dear hearts? there were no happening? read as zero effect. I saw dollar signs in the black smoke? after trying two more times I looked at the gauge, the needle was leisurely laying at the bottom of the gauge. I yelled at my wife? First off never yell at your wife!
Tune in next week for part two?

Never mind. The wife handed me a gallon jug of good old Ft. Worth tap water?
Well yes, I know, I was once a firefighter that had fought a few car fires? with CO2.
And that is shocking with the engine still running.

Meanwhile back on the mountain I laughingly pored water on the gasoline fire while still able to smell some burnt hair. Amazingly the fire went out.
Even more amazing after five pushes We coasted to a stop in front of a garage next door to a motel with a vacancy in Ouray, lent a CJ-7 and went to supper.
Surprisingly I was not ripped off for repairs and a new set of sparkplug wires.
Ever since I carried two fire extinguishers neither of which are the Kiddie brand.

The most difficult part of this was, it was my second day of quitting smoking after thirty years. I still ain't had one! And the Waggie did Poughkeepsie Gulch a couple more times
later.

Good luck.. Don S..

BTW? This was able to happen due to a little less oxygen at 11,000 feet.

[letank]

aaaaack, terrible story, sorry for your scare.
From the distributor side especially, what distributor do you have, oem or hei?
whag aboug powef steering fluid leak? hydraulic fluid leaks are worst for fires.

[Mikel]

I spoke with a past owner of my '66 Toronado. He said that back in the day, the carburetor caught fire as he pulled into a car wash. He thought "this is my chance to collect the insurance money". Then someone showed up with a fire extinguisher and put out the fire

[letank]

remember to spray thru the grille, never pop up the hood, it will allow more air to feed the flames!

[SJTD]

I can see that working with CO2 or Halon but a dry chem?

[cma]

Thanks for sharing your story!

..

Sad to hear of the fire.

Not wanting to bore you here's the story.
In 1988 I had one in Colorado at about 11,000 feet. This was Poughkeepsie Gulch were 4x4s should be at least slightly better than stock. I was pushing that a little bit in my 1976 Waggie. At a steep angle gasoline leaked from bowl gasket down fuel line dripping on tiny exhaust leak. A massive fire erupted from the other pooled leaked fuel before I could move to a more level spot to fight the fire. I jumped out grabbing my new in the box Kiddie fire extinguisher. I popped the hood singeing some unneeded hair. I triggered this beautiful red device. BUT? dear hearts? there were no happening? read as zero effect. I saw dollar signs in the black smoke? after trying two more times I looked at the gauge, the needle was leisurely laying at the bottom of the gauge. I yelled at my wife? First off never yell at your wife!
Tune in next week for part two?

Never mind. The wife handed me a gallon jug of good old Ft. Worth tap water?
Well yes, I know, I was once a firefighter that had fought a few car fires? with CO2.
And that is shocking with the engine still running.

Meanwhile back on the mountain I laughingly pored water on the gasoline fire while still able to smell some burnt hair. Amazingly the fire went out.
Even more amazing after five pushes We coasted to a stop in front of a garage next door to a motel with a vacancy in Ouray, lent a CJ-7 and went to supper.
Surprisingly I was not ripped off for repairs and a new set of sparkplug wires.
Ever since I carried two fire extinguishers neither of which are the Kiddie brand.

The most difficult part of this was, it was my second day of quitting smoking after thirty years. I still ain't had one! And the Waggie did Poughkeepsie Gulch a couple more times
later.

Good luck.. Don S..

BTW? This was able to happen due to a little less oxygen at 11,000 feet.

[cma]

Stock Distributor.
Powersteering does have new hose and line. In the next weeks i will after arrival of the new parts check again the source, start, of the fire.

aaaaack, terrible story, sorry for your scare.
From the distributor side especially, what distributor do you have, oem or hei?
whag aboug powef steering fluid leak? hydraulic fluid leaks are worst for fires.

[ShagWagon]

Sounds like fuel pump or hose leak.

It's right there.

[letank]

I was looking at your excellent bunch of pictures, is your fuel filter oriented properly with the return at 12 o'clock, the smaller hose 1/4" is supposed to be on top or above the main feed of 5/16" to the carburetor

[cma]

Do you think it could be one of the causes?
I have to check when i am next time at the truck.

I was looking at your excellent bunch of pictures, is your fuel filter oriented properly with the return at 12 o'clock, the smaller hose 1/4" is supposed to be on top or above the main feed of 5/16" to the carburetor

[letank]

Do you think it could be one of the causes?
I have to check when i am next time at the truck.

Not too sure, but time to check the proper orientation of the fuel filter lines. I went to the extreme and relocated the fuel filter on the inner fender so the fuel does not cook above the valve cover, check my links in the signature. The wrong fuel filter orientation will usually create poor fuel delivery and poor performance



Something was set on fire and you need to find out what are the culprits, as it may not happen to one of us


Good luck

[JeepJeepster]

Have you checked the emissions wiring thoroughly? I try to talk about it as often as possible to get people to check it/add protection to that circuit. Its basically unprotected from the factory and given its location its easy for it to short out.

[cma]

Emissions wiring? You mean the vacuum circuit? What can you protect there?

Have you checked the emissions wiring thoroughly? I try to talk about it as often as possible to get people to check it/add protection to that circuit. Its basically unprotected from the factory and given its location its easy for it to short out.