Tragedy struck...
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 28
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Tragedy struck...
My '75 F100 caught fire the other day.
I had been driving it and stopped at my work. When I was fixing to leave, I started up the truck, heard a pop and smoke began to roll. I saw gas dripping onto the parking lot from underneath the engine along with fire.
The fire department got involved and needless to say, I was pretty bummed.
Here's the end result of the fire.
I had been driving it and stopped at my work. When I was fixing to leave, I started up the truck, heard a pop and smoke began to roll. I saw gas dripping onto the parking lot from underneath the engine along with fire.
The fire department got involved and needless to say, I was pretty bummed.
Here's the end result of the fire.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 2
From: Wingo, Ky
Dang that sucks. Atleast the rest of the truck is ok, don't look to bad. Fire damage is a pain to clean up.
You could look at it this way, maybe the truck is hinting to you that its ready to be spiffed up, lol.
Iv'e seen little fire damge like this spark the desire for some people to do a full body off resto.
You could look at it this way, maybe the truck is hinting to you that its ready to be spiffed up, lol.
Iv'e seen little fire damge like this spark the desire for some people to do a full body off resto.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 12
From: Northeast LA
That sucks man, maybe you can replace the melted/burned stuff and it'll be ok.
I had a surprise kinda like that one time. I got out of my truck and smelled something, so I walked around to look and through the passenger side wheel well I could see a fire. I hurried up and popped the hood. I could see the rag I used all the time to check the oil had got caught between the header and the frame and caught on fire. I was able to knock it out and stomp on it to put it out.
I had a surprise kinda like that one time. I got out of my truck and smelled something, so I walked around to look and through the passenger side wheel well I could see a fire. I hurried up and popped the hood. I could see the rag I used all the time to check the oil had got caught between the header and the frame and caught on fire. I was able to knock it out and stomp on it to put it out.
The village idiot.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 1
From: Southern WV
I spent 3 years rebuilding a stepside err...other brand of truck....just to have the carb pop off and cook the whole truck. Total loss. What sucks the most is where it burnt you can SEE the fire dept lol. It took them 20 minutes to show up, just to watch it burn. The first hose was pulled 35 minutes into the blaze. I scrapped it for 500 bucks and bought a Ford 
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
That sucks sorry bout that man. whats the rest of the truck look like can u save it? if its just the engine it doesnt look like a total loss. Im on a the local fire dept here n ive been to a few car fires, had a chev cavalier burn up sometime back when i went to open the hood release had a fire ball come back at me. but we saved a 66 F100 dragster on a different occasion that some ding dong was pulling on a front end dolly with out taking the drive shaft out. every body on the dept knows what a ford man i am n i get made fun of all the time for how my efforts that day.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 2
From: Prairieville, La
When I first bought my truck it caught fire under the hood from a carb leak. I was next to the gas pumps at the gas station. The attendant came running out with a dry chemical extinguisher. I looked at him and told him to get me a bucket of ice. He looked at me kinda crazy, so I told him that the dry chem makes to much of a mess and that I wanted ice. I got the ice on the motor and no more fire. Shortly after the fire department showed up asking about a car on fire. I told them it was not me. The next day I fixed the carb and a couple of vacuum lines in the gas station parking lot. The attendant asked me to sell him the truck. I told him no thanks and drove the truck home.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 2
From: London, Ontario Canada
fires suck, 
it does look fixable, and your lucky i have seen much worse fires in our trucks, so did the carb leak? then maybe the carb backfired and ignited the fuel or maybe the fuel was ignited by the distributor, or maybe a fuel line leaked? and caused the fire?
also i think we should all take this as proof of why we should all carry a good and accessible multi-purpose dry powder or foam spray extinguisher in our trucks, heck i think a fire extinguisher should be a required safety feature in all vehicles, as you never know when a fire will break out, and its always better to be prepared
and best of luck on fixing your truck, i am sure once you replace some wiring and spark plug wires and the distributor and coil and the fuel and vacuum lines, and you should be fine, also how did the hood fair?
-Brent
it does look fixable, and your lucky i have seen much worse fires in our trucks, so did the carb leak? then maybe the carb backfired and ignited the fuel or maybe the fuel was ignited by the distributor, or maybe a fuel line leaked? and caused the fire?
also i think we should all take this as proof of why we should all carry a good and accessible multi-purpose dry powder or foam spray extinguisher in our trucks, heck i think a fire extinguisher should be a required safety feature in all vehicles, as you never know when a fire will break out, and its always better to be prepared
and best of luck on fixing your truck, i am sure once you replace some wiring and spark plug wires and the distributor and coil and the fuel and vacuum lines, and you should be fine, also how did the hood fair?
-Brent
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2010
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Damage is pretty much what you see in that photo. It did melt the wiring right where it goes into the fire wall causing the lights to come on and the horn to sound as it burned.
As for the hood, just some paint peel from being right over the center of the fire, but the whole truck needs painting as is - it's a multi-color featuring red, black, and gray.
People I've talked to and showed this photo to say it isn't a lost cause and shouldn't require that much to get her back on the road. It will be a slow process for me as I'm just starting out and really hadn't had the truck more than a month.
As for the hood, just some paint peel from being right over the center of the fire, but the whole truck needs painting as is - it's a multi-color featuring red, black, and gray.
People I've talked to and showed this photo to say it isn't a lost cause and shouldn't require that much to get her back on the road. It will be a slow process for me as I'm just starting out and really hadn't had the truck more than a month.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
If youre hoping to put out an engine fire with a fire extinguisher, then you should carry a minimum of 2 20lb all steel extinguishers. There is a good thread on this on another board.
Of course, an even better solution is to pay a few hundred dollars to install an on board fire suppresion system using halon or AFF.
You are really really lucky. That damage is very very insignificant....could have lost the whole truck! I hope you make a nice donation to your local fire department for being on the ball and saving your bacon!
Of course, an even better solution is to pay a few hundred dollars to install an on board fire suppresion system using halon or AFF.
You are really really lucky. That damage is very very insignificant....could have lost the whole truck! I hope you make a nice donation to your local fire department for being on the ball and saving your bacon!
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 8
From: Southern Oregon Coast
I carry an extinguisher in my truck at all times for just such an emergency - actually, the PO suggested I do so lol...
However, the PO had already eliminated one problem spot by running a single piece of steel fuel line from the carb down to the pump - the only bits of rubber left for fuel line are the little pieces that hold the filter on - I haven't figured out how to eliminate those from the equation yet...
Have they figured out what caused the fire? If I were to fathom a guess, just by looking at your photo, I would say the fuel line split and sprayed gas into a spot where the fumes got ignited...
However, the PO had already eliminated one problem spot by running a single piece of steel fuel line from the carb down to the pump - the only bits of rubber left for fuel line are the little pieces that hold the filter on - I haven't figured out how to eliminate those from the equation yet...
Have they figured out what caused the fire? If I were to fathom a guess, just by looking at your photo, I would say the fuel line split and sprayed gas into a spot where the fumes got ignited...
The village idiot.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 1
From: Southern WV
If youre hoping to put out an engine fire with a fire extinguisher, then you should carry a minimum of 2 20lb all steel extinguishers. There is a good thread on this on another board.
Of course, an even better solution is to pay a few hundred dollars to install an on board fire suppresion system using halon or AFF.
You are really really lucky. That damage is very very insignificant....could have lost the whole truck! I hope you make a nice donation to your local fire department for being on the ball and saving your bacon!
Of course, an even better solution is to pay a few hundred dollars to install an on board fire suppresion system using halon or AFF.
You are really really lucky. That damage is very very insignificant....could have lost the whole truck! I hope you make a nice donation to your local fire department for being on the ball and saving your bacon!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 796
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
My 75 F100 4x4 had an engine fire also, about 8 years ago. I feel your pain. I built another motor. 429, replaced the wiring, windshield and repainted the front half of the truck. Alot of work but I think its better now. I also carry a fire extinquisher in all my vehicles. 