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Sorry to see this but good to see people were safe.
If you had an HEI dist. then you did not have a coil filled with oil like pictured as the coil is under the cap and why it is so large.
I know it is hard to think of this right now but the insurance will give nothing, book $$, and take the truck.
So if you think you will repair it down the road buy it back.
Even if you don't repair it you can use it for parts for another project or part it out but once gone it is gone.
Also if it is not in your yard, storage is added each day and this puts it over the top to get it back.
Just for numbers but if it sat at the tow yard for 2 weeks that could add up to $1000 with the tow.
Would you pay that to get the truck back plus buy back from the insurance Co.?
Just something for you and others if they have something like this happen and it needs to be towed.
A lot of times it is best to have it towed home, you pay the tow bill and let it sit till you decided what to do.
Again sorry to see this happen.
Dave ----
HEI isn't just large cap with coil, Lots of HEI systems use external coils.
The popping sound could also have been a belt snapping and whacking a few things like the fuel line. Hard to say.
It almost sounds exactly what happened to the other truck this week... recent electrical and AC work, then a pop under the hood and up in flames. Your descriptions are pretty close. I have to wonder if the two are related.
Here is bulldogcountry's posthttps://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1584710-well-i-had-a-bad-weekend.html
This is awful. I guess you don’t have to look far to find folks who have walked in your shoes.
HEI isn't just large cap with coil, Lots of HEI systems use external coils.
When people talk "HEI" most (me) think the GM HEI where the coil is built into the cap.
Yes some of the GM HEI like on some of the 250 L6 motors used external coils.
I also think the name HEI was a GM thing and not used by anyone else.
So are you calling the Motorcraft DSII system HEI also?
I don't remember what they call the MOPAR system, lean burn? would that also be HEI?
So what other systems are HEI with external coils as I would like to know?
Just Googled "hei ignition" and guess what it shows? Yep coil in cap.
Dave ----
How about everyone stop with the doomsday "bad coil!" and fearmongering until we find out what really happened...
Besides, I'm sure in the U.S., every day at least one car catches on fire somewhere. I've seen newer cars on fire, too. Parts can fail at any time, it's not just a simple "don't use X part" kind of advice, it's actually not helpful at all
How about everyone stop with the doomsday "bad coil!" and fearmongering until we find out what really happened...
Besides, I'm sure in the U.S., every day at least one car catches on fire somewhere. I've seen newer cars on fire, too. Parts can fail at any time, it's not just a simple "don't use X part" kind of advice, it's actually not helpful at all
I’ve reached out to a certified fire investigator to try to determine the cause. Who knows if there is enough left to clue him in on it, but he’s got 40 years of experience. I’ll report back what I learn.
When people talk "HEI" most (me) think the GM HEI where the coil is built into the cap.
Yes some of the GM HEI like on some of the 250 L6 motors used external coils.
I also think the name HEI was a GM thing and not used by anyone else.
So are you calling the Motorcraft DSII system HEI also?
I don't remember what they call the MOPAR system, lean burn? would that also be HEI?
So what other systems are HEI with external coils as I would like to know?
Just Googled "hei ignition" and guess what it shows? Yep coil in cap.
Dave ----
If you think HEI means large cap that would be incorrect. The General Motors High Energy Ignition is just the chip itself, from 77-88 they were large cap with coil on top. From late 87 early 88 GM went to small cap remote coil. The aftermarket makes both large cap HEI distributors and Small cap remote coil HEI distributors for Fords. The benefit to a small cap HEI on a Ford is clearance because of the front mounted distributor.
The HEI swap has been so common over the years unless someone specifically tells you the cap size you don't know. It's also incredibly easy to install a HEI chip and use the stock duraspark distributor. The Ford and Chrysler ignitions wouldn't be considered HEI, the GM HEI gets its name from the ability to extend dwell and bring coil to peak voltage before discharge make it high energy.
Meant to say too, really sorry this happened. Just about everyone here on the old truck boards knows how much time and energy it takes to get them back up to reliable, safe, and lookin' good like that.
Meant to say too, really sorry this happened. Just about everyone here on the old truck boards knows how much time and energy it takes to get them back up to reliable, safe, and lookin' good like that.
Thanks Tedster. My brother bought this truck when we were teenagers. He passed away in 2005, so it was always my dream to restore it in his honor. Losing it has brought back some of the pain of losing him so many years ago. The restoration process was such a labor of love. The thought of doing it all over again just hurts. Hopefully someday.
The restoration process was such a labor of love. The thought of doing it all over again just hurts. Hopefully someday.
Yeah I was gonna mention that, nobody works on these to make money, the hours invested are not recouped upon sale. Maybe try to let some time pass and think about it more objectively, easy for me to say I guess. You did a good thing though posting these pics, maybe it will help put a boot in the *** on folks who might not think about this stuff as often as we should. Complacency ain't never good.
When you spend a year of your life, blood, sweat, tears and dollars restoring your deceased brother’s truck that has been in the family for 20 years, only to watch it go up in flames in minutes. I keep hoping to wake up from a bad dream, but this really just happened.
A few lessons learned:
1. Life is more important than toys. My son was driving it when it happened, and he was able to get out and call 911 before he was hurt in any way.
2. It’s great to have first responders, friends and neighbors there for you when you need a shoulder to lean on (or cry on).
3. Stated value insurance is the way to go. I called my agent this morning to switch from a standard market insurance to a stated value policy.. then this happened 2 hours later. The new policy hadn’t kicked in yet, so absent a miracle, I’ll probably get pennies.
I’m not sure if I have it in me to try to do it all over again. The time, effort, and money that went into this project was all worth it before this happened. Maybe I’ll try again a few years down the road after the sting has worn off and the wounds scar over. For now, say a little prayer for me and my son. We feel like we’ve lost a part of the family.
Oh man, I'm so sorry... that's horrible to see. I really feel your pain. I would be devastated. I have my grandpa's truck. I'd be a wreck if that burnt up. Sorry to see that.
I’ve reached out to a certified fire investigator to try to determine the cause. Who knows if there is enough left to clue him in on it, but he’s got 40 years of experience. I’ll report back what I learn.
So sorry for your loss. I'm really interested to learn what they find.
Terrible..... so sorry for your loss.... I know how hard you worked on that truck and there was the sentimental value too.....
If and I said....IF..... there is any good to come from these 2 truck fires in the last 3 weeks it is this....
All us other guys are learning how to help PREVENT (or subdue) fires when using these now-a-days...CRAP... parts that the chinese send over here. And as they smile all the way to the bank, we have to learn THE HARD WAY that the stuff they make is NEVER meant to last but a few days.....
I have a cuckle burr up my A$$ when it comes to POS chinese crappy parts, RUBBER, wires or what-the-heck ever they expect us to use.... Their crap is nothing but a bunch of time bombs...... NO GUARANTEE time bombs.
The only guarantee is... THEY WILL FAIL....
SO.... buy MADE IN USA parts only.... if you can find 'em.
Man that is a blow. The good thing is no one was hurt. The next thing is it can be fixed, yes it will cost more money. Dont give up yet. I am hoping that your insurance will cover some of the loss.
I got some amazing news today. My insurance agent called the insurance company and explained to them my dilemma - that I emailed my approval for a new policy literally 2 hours before the fire. They have agreed to honor my request for the new policy as of the time of my email, even though it means an immediate claim that they are going to take on. What an amazing company! This doesn’t bring my truck back, nor does it heal the heartache of losing something I poured my soul into, and I won’t recover all the dollars I put into it, but at least I won’t end up empty handed. They will probably get their investigators involved, so I’ll let you guys know if they figure out the cause.
As has been mentioned before, PLEASE properly insure your trucks, especially if they are family trucks like mine. I don’t want to violate any advertising rules here, so suffice it to say I will forever sing the praises of my insurance agent that went to bat for me and the insurance company has a customer for life for all of my insurance needs. If anyone needs a referral, let me know and I would be happy to share my agent’s info.
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