<VV> Engine fire.

[Smitty]

All good guesses but no grommet problems, no fire below the air seal sheet metal level.  Heater hose not near the starter terminal. The fire might not have been such a big deal except for the fact that the bottom side of the engine cover was covered with a half inch inch of vinyl foam and covered with Naugahyde.  That stuff thought it was gasoline once it got started.  That oversight will be corrected with the rebuild.

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 7, 2016, at 3:51 PM, shortle <shortle556 at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> Probably that damned alternator he converted his charging system to. All kidding aside a fire in a car is usually caused by improper mechanics having been performed. I don't believe this was one of those times. How about the heater hose rubbing on the positive post of the starter? Excessive oil on the exhaust (diluted with gasoline)? Battery cable rubbing on shroud due to faulty grommet? Let us know Smitty when you figure out what happened. Or plan on driving with your large cooler with melted ice water at the helm.
> Timothy Shortle in Durango Colorado 81301
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ed Lindsay via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>> Sent: Nov 6, 2016 2:42 PM
>> To: Smitty <vairologist at cox.net>
>> Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>> Subject: Re: <VV> Engine fire.
>> 
>> Probably was caused when the plastic fuel filter mounted in the engine compartment with rubber hoses started leaking and the electric fuel pump Smitty had mounted next to the battery just kept feeding it and ignition was when the speaker wire he was using to power it shorted out at the wire nut connections, could also have been a bad connection at the Pertronics too.  
>> 
>>                                    Right Smitty ?
>> 
>>                                        Ed Lindsay
>>                                            West Florida Corvair Club
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Smitty via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>> Sent: Sun, 06 Nov 2016 11:36:52 -0500 (EST)
>> Subject: <VV> Engine fire.
>> 
>> Smitty Says;  A few weeks ago the engine in my 446,000 mile wagon caught on fire out on the highway.  Fortunately I was carrying a large cooler full of mostly melted ice water and was able to use that to put the fire out.  What caused it?  I don’t know.  The fire seemed to be concentrated toward the front of the engine compartment.    I wouldn’t bother you folks with all this except I feel a need to make a statement.  Every hose, wire, spark plug wire. and piece of plastic was consumed.  If I had been one of you who think it is OK to have one of those pretty in-line gas filters hooked up with a couple of hoses in the engine compartment, I don’t think I could have got the fire out.
>> Just for info, the State Farm adjuster that came to the house was more than helpful in making up a claim.  He helped me to remember several items that added up to considerable amount of money to include in the claim.  I have stated value insurance.  My ancient body recoils at the thought of restoring the damage, but the wagon will live again.
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