Cheap fuel filter = fire... please help
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by dholifield
Ok, this thread has me ready to swap my rubber line setup to steel. I looked on the ecklers site and found a pre bent fuel line. I have a 72 with nom 350 equiped with a quadrajet. will this line fit my car without modifications? Don
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1818
I can't see why it shouldn't work. It would maybe even work on my Edelbrock setup. I could probably get by with just a short piece of rubber line from the banjo line off the carb to a barb adaptor screwed into a threaded filter. That line would at least get a hard line up from the fuel pump into the vicinity of the carb.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
JD thats the one. I'm still new to C3 ownership, so I tend to ask some very freshman questions, but thanks to all who have the patients to answer them. I have learned an incredible amount in a short period of time from the members here. Don
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Here is a washable filter that's great for hard plumbing into the 3/8 steel line. Comes with 6an fittings, filters to 10 microns (suitable for injectors too). Made by Golan and also sold by K&N. Won some product of the year a while ago.
Body is approx 3" long
Body is approx 3" long
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 29,335
Likes: 51
From: Monterey, CA
My car has a steel line from the pump to the front edge of the intake manifold, and also a steel line from the carb. In between, there is a few inches of fuel injection rubber hose and a filter. What's the problem with running fuel injection hose in an area free of possible abrasion, etc.? My other cars run it from the factory under much higher pressure than my manual fuel pump will ever make.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
Originally Posted by cswhelan
I own a 79 vette that I have been working on for the past two years. I have posted to these very forums several times, always with the best responses and most valued opinions.
I am really bummed right now. I just finished installing all new brake lines, calipers, flex lines, and parking brake cables. When I finished bleeding the brakes, I was excited to take it for a trip down the road to see the effectiveness of the brakes. Well, I didn't even make it out of the driveway.
I fired up the vette, and smelled some fuel. The hood was open, so I looked up, and saw fuel spraying out of the engine! Needless to say, I killed the engine immediately, but not before the raw fuel ignited on the now hot headers. I immediately saw flames 10' high out of my engine compartment! I ran into my house and grabbed the closest fire extinguisher and was able to put it out within a minute or two.
Needless to say, I am sad to see the damage that resulted from this short duration.
This whole story brings me to one question to ask everyone... What is the recommended fuel filter (if any) setup on the C3 vettes? I HAD a solid line going from my pump to a 90... then flex line to an inline fuel filter (from trans-dep, which caused the fire) then back to a flex line and finally entering the carb from a fitting. It is an Edelbrock carb, so I was thinking about getting the solid elbow from the carb, then having a fuel filter (HIGH QUALITY) directly screwed into that line. Then if possible, one solid line from that to the fuel pump.
I have to be honest, this scared the crap outta me. I want to make sure this doesn't ever happen again.
Also, does anyone have any suggestions on what to check or any common problems after an engine fire?
Thank you all in advance for your advice.
I am really bummed right now. I just finished installing all new brake lines, calipers, flex lines, and parking brake cables. When I finished bleeding the brakes, I was excited to take it for a trip down the road to see the effectiveness of the brakes. Well, I didn't even make it out of the driveway.
I fired up the vette, and smelled some fuel. The hood was open, so I looked up, and saw fuel spraying out of the engine! Needless to say, I killed the engine immediately, but not before the raw fuel ignited on the now hot headers. I immediately saw flames 10' high out of my engine compartment! I ran into my house and grabbed the closest fire extinguisher and was able to put it out within a minute or two.
Needless to say, I am sad to see the damage that resulted from this short duration.
This whole story brings me to one question to ask everyone... What is the recommended fuel filter (if any) setup on the C3 vettes? I HAD a solid line going from my pump to a 90... then flex line to an inline fuel filter (from trans-dep, which caused the fire) then back to a flex line and finally entering the carb from a fitting. It is an Edelbrock carb, so I was thinking about getting the solid elbow from the carb, then having a fuel filter (HIGH QUALITY) directly screwed into that line. Then if possible, one solid line from that to the fuel pump.
I have to be honest, this scared the crap outta me. I want to make sure this doesn't ever happen again.
Also, does anyone have any suggestions on what to check or any common problems after an engine fire?
Thank you all in advance for your advice.
had a fire extinguisher. I'm not suggesting that you mount a fire
extinguisher on your right floorboard and run around looking like a
full blown race car, but you could buy one put it behind your seat
in a simple box so it won't roll around but is easy to get to. if you
have a fire out on the highway with nothing to put it out fiberglass
burns very quick.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Augusta Maine
Originally Posted by Little Mouse
You did have some good luck in that it happened at home where you
had a fire extinguisher. I'm not suggesting that you mount a fire
extinguisher on your right floorboard and run around looking like a
full blown race car, but you could buy one put it behind your seat
in a simple box so it won't roll around but is easy to get to. if you
have a fire out on the highway with nothing to put it out fiberglass
burns very quick.
had a fire extinguisher. I'm not suggesting that you mount a fire
extinguisher on your right floorboard and run around looking like a
full blown race car, but you could buy one put it behind your seat
in a simple box so it won't roll around but is easy to get to. if you
have a fire out on the highway with nothing to put it out fiberglass
burns very quick.
Believe it or not, I went out and purchased a replacement fire extinguisher for my house, and an additional $10 "BC" Vehicle unit for the Vette. You are totally correct in saying I was lucky... If I had taken it onto the road, I would have had to watch it burn to the ground. I think it is worth some snickering when I mount this in the Vette.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Augusta Maine
Originally Posted by jdmick
My guess is that you got a filter for 5/16 rubber line instead of 3/8. It's pretty hard to tell the difference just looking at them. I'm still running rubber line myself but I change it every couple of years and make sure there are no abrasion points. Why doesn't someone here put some hard line kits together to save a few old cars?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Boulder CO
Originally Posted by dholifield
Ok, this thread has me ready to swap my rubber line setup to steel. I looked on the ecklers site and found a pre bent fuel line. I have a 72 with nom 350 equiped with a quadrajet. will this line fit my car without modifications? Don
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
I ran into my house and grabbed the closest fire extinguisher and was able to put it out within a minute or two.
Man that bites. Sorry to hear your bad news. I had a very small fire in my 79 once and now in all my cars I have a fire extinguisher as standard equipment. Buy one and put it in you vette. If you don't use SS lines you should use the fuel injected rubber lines. They cost $5 a foot and well worth it.
G/L
Jim
Man that bites. Sorry to hear your bad news. I had a very small fire in my 79 once and now in all my cars I have a fire extinguisher as standard equipment. Buy one and put it in you vette. If you don't use SS lines you should use the fuel injected rubber lines. They cost $5 a foot and well worth it.
G/L
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Where to begin...
1. I have a chrome fire extinguisher mounted in front of my passenger seat. Doesn't seem to bother my wife (my usual passenger). It is not a full blown race car!
Paul can post a pic - he has the same setup.
2. Double flares for fuel line: There are several threads in the archives on this topic; I am involved in most of them. Search and ye shall find. Basically I had to buy 3 flaring tools before I found one that I could use to make a double flare. I didn't have too much trouble with kinking, but I think someone recommended filling the tube with salt first to prevent kinks??
3. I didn't see the pic of your fuel filter earlier. There are many many threads in the archives warning about these glass fuel filters, although the typical hazard is simply the glass breaking.
Very sorry to read about an engine fire.
1. I have a chrome fire extinguisher mounted in front of my passenger seat. Doesn't seem to bother my wife (my usual passenger). It is not a full blown race car!
Paul can post a pic - he has the same setup.2. Double flares for fuel line: There are several threads in the archives on this topic; I am involved in most of them. Search and ye shall find. Basically I had to buy 3 flaring tools before I found one that I could use to make a double flare. I didn't have too much trouble with kinking, but I think someone recommended filling the tube with salt first to prevent kinks??
3. I didn't see the pic of your fuel filter earlier. There are many many threads in the archives warning about these glass fuel filters, although the typical hazard is simply the glass breaking.
Very sorry to read about an engine fire.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,474
Likes: 1,495
From: Little Rock AR
Originally Posted by PRNDL
Where to begin...
3. I didn't see the pic of your fuel filter earlier. There are many many threads in the archives warning about these glass fuel filters, although the typical hazard is simply the glass breaking.
Very sorry to read about an engine fire.
3. I didn't see the pic of your fuel filter earlier. There are many many threads in the archives warning about these glass fuel filters, although the typical hazard is simply the glass breaking.
Very sorry to read about an engine fire.
-Mark.
[/IMG]
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
AS PRNDL noted, I have a 2 1/2-lb unit in my car. The attachment bracket is held down by the seat frame bolts. For years I carried a dry-chemical version but switched to halotron this year. But whatever, the poster is indeed fortunate to have an extinguisher at hand. Too often we say it cannot happen to me.
http://www.vetteworksonline.com/
http://www.vetteworksonline.com/
Last edited by Paul L; Sep 18, 2006 at 01:20 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
I carry a small Halon unit. They're great since they leave no residue but hard to find since they don't make them anymore. If it catches fire though, you can blame me for making the hole in the ozone a little bigger!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
I've said it before..and I'll probably get some flack for this but a 2,5lbs extinguisher will just about put out an ashtray fire...anything serious and it won't do a thing..then again, something's always better than nothing.