<VV> Safety First ! Prevent car fires!

[David Houston]

This is a general observation I've made in the last year when I decided to buy old corvairs that haven't been in use.  Every single corvair I've looked at or purchased had leaks in the carbs and fuel pumps, even if the car had been stored for a few years. I've rebuilt and replaced all my fuel systems for peace of mind and safety.  The FC camper I purchased already had two (2) fire extinquishers on either side of the front seat by the prior owner. Another area to check is the wiring harness. An amateur wire splicing in the wrong area can provide enough resistance to light up the junction like a light bulb filament. My nephew purchased a low mileage 1958 Buick that had been stored for 40 years. He had just left his house for a 4th of July picnic when a motorist pulled up along side and told him that flames were shooting out under the right front fender. When he stopped the car the lack of motion made the flames shoot out on both sides. When he lifted
 the hood a small,smelly fire behind the air cleaner had already melted the wiper motor and had jumped to the canvas covered heating vent.  The fire proof fuel line melted like it was suppose to and the danger of gasoline fire was minimized.  Luckily, He had pulled off on SAND which he threw on and finally put out the fire.  Yes.....He had a fire extinquisher but it wasn't enough to put out the electrical fire.  The fire followed the wiring harness like a wick!  The heat cracked the windshield and got into the dash. A state fire marshall came at our request to determine what caused it and where it started.  He found that the wires to the starter switch had been cut and spliced together by winding many years ago. It provided the resistance needed compounded with cracked insulation to start a small intense electrical fire that was fueled by the car's fan and forward movement. The old plastic insulation acted like a wick and after driving a mile or
 so the flames were showing under the fender. He's lucky someone warned him  and that the Buick of that era had so much metal.
Again, a fire could start in the corvair engine compartment similar to this story and the driver might not know until an explosion or worse!  Please check these old cars before you have problems that could kill!