C3 Fire - FunFest(pics)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Vettepower, Tim H - You two have something in common that I doubt either of you have with ANY of your friends. You both own Corvettes of the same year.
Not only does this mean you both share a passion for the same kind of car that brings us all together, it means you both wave at the same guys when you're out driving. It means you spend the same high prices for Corvette parts, and get hit on by the same kind of girls.
Owning a Corvette is a big thing to a lot of people and both of you are in that ownership club. I'll bet you both like beer too. Maybe even sports. Probably young women. See my point? Lots in common.
Not only does this mean you both share a passion for the same kind of car that brings us all together, it means you both wave at the same guys when you're out driving. It means you spend the same high prices for Corvette parts, and get hit on by the same kind of girls.
Owning a Corvette is a big thing to a lot of people and both of you are in that ownership club. I'll bet you both like beer too. Maybe even sports. Probably young women. See my point? Lots in common.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,157
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola FLA
This brings up an interesting question... about how long... 30 seconds, 60 seconds, does someone have to use their fire extinguisher before it becomes unsafe?
I know someone who was injured trying to save a Corvette in a fire. While we all love our cars, I have to say if any of my cars caught fire, I'd be moving away from the vehicle, both in concern for the fire and the gas tank.
That's why I pay my insurance bills. There's lots of cars out there. Safety first.
I know someone who was injured trying to save a Corvette in a fire. While we all love our cars, I have to say if any of my cars caught fire, I'd be moving away from the vehicle, both in concern for the fire and the gas tank.
That's why I pay my insurance bills. There's lots of cars out there. Safety first.
Bryan
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
That car fire was awful.
I have my fire extinguisher mounted on the floor front of the passenger seat and my car never goes anywhere without it but it seems that sometimes that extinguisher just isn't enough.
As I am a newbie around cars, what can be done to limit the fire hazards in the engine room? I figured the things that could burn was fuel and wire insulation, which are both necessary.
I have my fire extinguisher mounted on the floor front of the passenger seat and my car never goes anywhere without it but it seems that sometimes that extinguisher just isn't enough.
As I am a newbie around cars, what can be done to limit the fire hazards in the engine room? I figured the things that could burn was fuel and wire insulation, which are both necessary.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
That car fire was awful.
I have my fire extinguisher mounted on the floor front of the passenger seat and my car never goes anywhere without it but it seems that sometimes that extinguisher just isn't enough.
As I am a newbie around cars, what can be done to limit the fire hazards in the engine room? I figured the things that could burn was fuel and wire insulation, which are both necessary.
I have my fire extinguisher mounted on the floor front of the passenger seat and my car never goes anywhere without it but it seems that sometimes that extinguisher just isn't enough.
As I am a newbie around cars, what can be done to limit the fire hazards in the engine room? I figured the things that could burn was fuel and wire insulation, which are both necessary.
The biggest thing you can do is protect your fuel system. The gravity feed fuel systems are the hard ones. The later C3s are a little easier. The pump is the only thing pulling fuel up to the engine so if the engine shuts down so does the flow of fuel.
The hard lines on the frame need to be inspected. They can rust and rot and break spewing fuel on hot exhaust or wiring.
The rubber lines in the back, especially in the cars where they are on top of the fuel tank, can get old and cracked and leak.
The rubber lines at the front of the car are also prone to cracking under age duress and because they move and stretch with the engine it's important to keep them maintained.
You can replace all rubber line with either fuel injection rubber line which is much stringer or you can replace it all with S/S braided lines and AN fittings.
Make sure you don't use a glass filter, and keep your carb tuned. A geyser of gas out of the top of the carb can be a problem if your floats stick.
Just be careful and mindful of the fuel system from front to back and that's the biggest step in avoiding car fires. A secondary check is to make sure you don't have any exposed wiring or shorts in your electrical system.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Thanks :-)
The thing you call "glass" filter, is it really glass or just transparent?
Cause I have a transparent plastic filter just before the carburetor. I prefered this since I could easily inspect the filter. Was metal filter the good choice here?
The thing you call "glass" filter, is it really glass or just transparent?
Cause I have a transparent plastic filter just before the carburetor. I prefered this since I could easily inspect the filter. Was metal filter the good choice here?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Metal is best. The clear plastic ones are also prone to cracking with age, and the glass ones are just a hazard.
The metal in line filter you can get at Autozone for a few bucks is a good investment and just remember to change it with every tuneup.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,499
Likes: 1,507
From: Little Rock AR
There is a very well known business owner here in AR that has an immaculate red C2 convertible. I was speaking with him at a show-n-shine while looking his car over and noticed he had one of those "napalm" style glass fuel filters on his car. 
I strongly advised him to get that crappy filter off his car right away but I bet you a doughnut it is still on there. 
I guess he can afford to buy another Vette if that one goes up in flames. 
-Mark.
I strongly advised him to get that crappy filter off his car right away but I bet you a doughnut it is still on there. I guess he can afford to buy another Vette if that one goes up in flames. -Mark.
