FIRE - Not happy right now...but thankfull

[Growler]

Car fire today is the not so good news...having a fire extinguisher handy is the very good news.

After driving all morning and then be parked for an hour, the car wouldn't start and after 3 attempts to start it, smoke and orange flames could be seen under the hood. Fortunatly a fire extinguisher was handy and the fire was out in two short bursts.

Looks like the fire was coming from the carb thru the air filter. What would cause this? what would spark close enough to cause it to ignite? What would be your first steps in diagnosing the isssue? Does insurance (Hagerty) cover this? Any comments are appreciated...here are some pictures.

Thanks, now off to start the cleaning (and to buy a new Halon extinguisher)

 

[Warren]

Bummer

Comprehensive claim. Halon fire extinguishers are no longer legal in the US but are extremely effective without all the mess of Sodium Bicarbonate, or dry chemical. PM me off line as I spent 22 years as an agent. Exactly why the re pop fiberglass air cleaners have been poo poo ed. You must have had some backfire or a leak and a source of ignition. It seems like the original air cleaner is lower than the neck of the carb, so gravity and spitting of fuel would account for that, or possibly over fuel pressure and/or failure of the float bowl needle valve. Looks like you are getting a new carb or at least a proper rebuild..

 

[slypops]

Sorry! so very sorry. wonderful Halon advertisement! I bought one for my plane less than a year ago, so a good plane supplier will get you one . Expensive but worth it. Insurance definitely covers fire, basic peril. Good luck on restoration.

 

[Warren]

Halon

I used to have one on my sailboat. Halon is a heavier than air product and was not allowed in California just like R12 as I recall. It would be good to have a extinguisher with Halon as it does not leave the residue everywhere. All the white powder led me to believe Growler used a dry chemical in his fire. I recently was trying to buy a fiberglass re pop from Chuck Daly who also had a mold available. The idea was shelved as fiberglass burns really well and selling them could be problematic. I picked up a original air cleaner recently. I will get a Co2 ext. if I can find one, and or a fire suppressive blanket. How much was the Halon? Great that Growler was prepared, we should all have one at the ready as dutiful caretakers.

 

[cobrakidz]

Sorry to see this, just one more reason why I don't like Holley's. I am sure they are good carbs, I just have had bad luck with them, switched to the Edelbrock carbs and love them.

 

[cadreamn67]

Growler, I am very sorry to see the fire, but very happy to see you were able to keep it from being any worse than it was.

Also makes me wonder what it would have been like if the air cleaner had been one of those open mesh top and sides triangular shaped air cleaners with a foam filter element, or an oiled gauze K&N filter for that matter.

Gene

 

[0neoffive]

Good Insurances

We've had more than a bit of experience with "Stated Value Vintage" policy groups. They are very good and have worked with us well within certain limits. The adjusters all want a firm quote of course (not gonna happen); and we usually have to educate the newbie tele-agent that there is a considerable difference between "restoration shop" and "body shop".

 

[hottigr]

Sorry to see that...had a very similar thing happen around '71 with an F4B and a Holley. Had just finished gassing up, started the Tiger- it started a little strange- next thing I notice is the paint in the middle of my hood starting to bubble! Good thing I had a fire extinguisher!! After I put out the carb fire, I was actually able to drive home. I never did find a leak. Must have been one of those Holley carb/backfire freak things.

 

[Growler]

So far insurance is not giving me any problems and the mechanical aspect should be repaired in a few days....paint will follow.

Now about fire extinguishers.....I understand that halon in the gas form was outlawed, but it seems that there is halon 1211 (or halatron) that is a nitrogen cooled liquid form of the gas that evaporates very fast and leave no residue.

I see several makers of the halon 1211 and halatron. Any recommendations about how good the newer halon is, the different manufactures (halguard, kiddie etc) and the appropriate size to carry - 1.4 lbs, 2.5 lbs, or 5 lbs (which seems quite large). I see JEGs has some nice looking units....

I will copy this into a new thread