<VV> Acrid Burning Smell (Electrical?) on Startup

[RoboMan91324 at aol.com]

Bill,
 
Before spending a bunch of time and effort under the dash,  consider that 
the smell might be coming from under the "Turkey Roaster" or  elsewhere in 
the engine compartment.  What you might have is burnt oil  smell coming 
through your heater system.  Burnt oil smell could be mistaken  for burnt wire 
insulation.  It is winter and you probably leave your heater  in the On 
position when you park the car.  The burnt oil smell could  accumulate in the 
Turkey Roaster while parked and come out into the passenger  compartment in a 
puff when started until fresh air replaces the tainted air  in the engine.  Try 
turning your heater to the Off position when you park  it or before you 
start it and see what happens.  Another check could be to  start your car under 
the same conditions that generate the smell.  (Heater  On.)  After the 
smell dissipates, turn the car off and then restart  it.  If the starting 
sequence causes the burnt smell from wires the first  time, it should cause the 
burnt smell from wires the second time.
 
The possibility of an electrical fire in your wiring harness  is a BIG 
concern but if it is a puff of oil smell from the Turkey Roaster, you  might 
decide to live with it rather than rip your engine apart to seal  things.  If 
my suspicion is correct, try leaving the heater off when you  start the car 
until the bad air is purged from the Turkey Roaster.
 
Good luck,
 
Doc
 
1960 Corvette, 1961 Rampside, 1962 Rampside, 1964 Spyder  coupe, 1965 
Greenbrier, 1966 Canadian Corsa turbo coupe, 1967 Nova SS, 1968  Camaro ragtop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
In a message dated 1/6/2014 1:55:40 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes:

Message:  3
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2014 10:08:54 -0800 (PST)
From: "Bill H."  <gojoe283 at yahoo.com>
Subject: <VV> Acrid Burning Smell  (Electrical?) on Startup
To: "virtualvairs at corvair.org"  <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Message-ID:
<1389031734.75636.YahooMailNeo at web160606.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=utf-8


I?m wondering if anyone has ever had this  symptom:? Your Corvair starts 
with no problem, but there is a strong burning  smell, like electrical wires 
burning, when first starting (cranking/starting  circuit?).? The smell goes 
away after about 1 minute, and the engine fires  right up with no problem and 
the starter cranks at full speed.
?
I?ve  checked my wiring at the ignition switch, as well as the wires going 
to the  starter and all the wires in the engine bay, and none appear to have 
melted  insulation or other problems.
?
Any help would be appreciated; my car  runs fine but naturally this symptom 
shouldn?t be ignored.? She?s my ?66 Monza  Sport Sedan, 110, PG with 
factory A/C.
?
Regards?Bill  Hershkowitz