Close call, almost up in flames

[TurboBuRick]

Yesterday evening I was at a friends house and we where buttoning a few loose ends on his T. He installed a new cam and finally we where going to break this thing in. It seemed like every thing that could go wrong did. Been trying to get this thing running for weeks.
So we where going along smoothly and we discovered a small fuel leak by the regulator. I'm sure some of you know whats coming next.
My buddie slides in the house for a sec and I grab the wrenches. We had put some paper towel under the regulator to soak up the gas. I put the wrench on the line and proceeded to remove. I think it was like the third turn and the wrench sparked off the alternator lead. That was it. Here come the flames.
So I grab the burning piece of paper towel and throw in on the floor. Now my hand is on fire. I shake it off and try to blow the flame out on the manifold. I see a big bath towel on the floor and grab that to try and smother the flames. During all this I yell out to buddie and he comes running. Luckily he moved fast and grabbed a extinguisher. That was a close call.
When his wife came home we told her about it. She said you kids are not allowed to play alone anymore. Needless to say there was no damage and we finally got the cam broke in. :biggrin:
I'll let him chime in if he wants.

 

[chrisgarrett]

Sorry Rick, but I was laughing as I read that. My scariest moment with fuel was when the alternator fan zinged my braided hose from my pressure gauge. I didn't think it had done any damage. Minutes later I felt and saw a mist spreading across the garage towards the funace. I turned off the furnace and the car in time. Anyway, since danger was diverted, and no one was hurt, the image of you jumping around the garage with a burning piece of paper towel makes me laugh.

 

[TurboBuRick]

I hear ya! It make me laugh thinking about what I must have looked like. I wonder if the neighbor across the street saw the action? :redface:
I'm just glad we where able to think fast. Some people would just run.

 

[Gary Wells]

Rick:
Glad to hear that you guys got everything straightened out in time before any serious damage was done, other than feelings. That would have scared me out of about 10 years growth.
Chris: Glad to hear that you resolved yours prior to burndown time too. Nothing scarier than fire.

 

[tom j]

It sounds like that kind of weekend (lessons learned) My buddy asked if I would trailer his car to the track Friday I said sure, but I only have 2 tie down straps, I said why dont you pick up 2 more on your way out. He showed up with no straps he decided that 2 was enough, I figured maybe he is right (stupid) So we are on are mary way about half way there we pulled away from a stop sign and the front strap came loose. the car slide back and landed on the frame with the tires barely touching the ground. The only damage was a crack in the front lower part of the fender. WE ARE SOME LUCKY BASTARDS THAT NOBODY GOT HURT AND THE CAR DIDN'T GET DESTROYED! The lessoned learned is always use 4 straps. You should of seen how we got the car of on the trailer on the side of the road. Then we continued on to the track without the trailer and mayed about 8 passes. Oh I forgot this was a 2005 ZO6

 

[darkred87T]

I bet ya won't forget to disconnect the battery before messing around with fuel near the alternator again.

A while back, I grounded the alternator to the regulator the same way with a set of allen wrenches when I was adjusting it. It branded the palm of my hand in the shape of the srping retainer holding the allen wrench to the ring.

 

[TurboBuRick]

I bet ya won't forget to disconnect the battery before messing around with fuel near the alternator again.

Thats for sure.

 

[bishir]

I watched this very thing happen to a GN guy at the track when he was trying to drain his tank via the fuel rail. Glad to see you got it put out!

 

[2QUIK6]

I set my truck on fire once under my carport connected to the house
Tried cranking it up with the valve covers off and forgot to reinstall the schrader valve on the fuel line..its at the back and hidden..of course fuel comes gushing out on to what....the dam distributor, went up in flames fast. Luckily had an extinguisher right there and put it out before it could even melt all the wiring...... but since the valve covers were off I had to completely tear the motor down to clean the sand like substance out of the heads

 

[Raymond Bunch]

I hear ya! It make me laugh thinking about what I must have looked like. I wonder if the neighbor across the street saw the action? :redface:
I'm just glad we where able to think fast. Some people would just run.

Ur to funny, I was just thinking about me if I were in your shoes:tongue: Probably look like a caveman who just discovered fire

Glad your ok man, disconnect the battery next time:smile:

 

[DCVING 6]

I'll let him chime in if he wants.

HI!

 

[DCVING 6]

Suprised to say, but for the flames that I saw, and the fact that it was burning for maybe 10 seconds or so, there is NO DAMAGE what-so-ever. I couldn't believe it! Not even darkened marks on the wires or anything. If Rick hadn't been so brave and literally reached into the fire to grab the paper towel, it would have been a whole different story!


Also have to thank Rick for all the help with it, over the weeks that it has taken. All the phone calls, hour long drives to my house, tools, etc. If if weren't for him, the thing would have been on fire, on purpous, a long time ago.

 

[GNflyby]

Sounds like something out of a cartoon...lol. But I'm glad no one was seriously hurt.

 

[SVT F15O]

Oh I forgot this was a 2005 ZO6

That's odd, they didn't make a 2005 Z06!

 

[TurboBuRick]

Glad to see you got it put out!

Thanks James, me too.

Ur to funny, I was just thinking about me if I were in your shoes:tongue: Probably look like a caveman who just discovered fire

Glad your ok man, disconnect the battery next time:smile:

I'm sure it looked real funny :wink: , I will be making it a practice to disconect the battery. Thanks

I set my truck on fire once under my carport connected to the house
Tried cranking it up with the valve covers off and forgot to reinstall the schrader valve on the fuel line..its at the back and hidden..of course fuel comes gushing out on to what....the dam distributor, went up in flames fast. Luckily had an extinguisher right there and put it out before it could even melt all the wiring...... but since the valve covers were off I had to completely tear the motor down to clean the sand like substance out of the heads

Now thats rough. I'm glad we had the motor sealed up.

Sounds like something out of a cartoon...lol. But I'm glad no one was seriously hurt.

:biggrin: Thats comedy :biggrin: I'm glad things turned out ok too. Thanks

 

[tom j]

That's odd, they didn't make a 2005 Z06!

Sorry 03

 

[imjoesnuffy]

Stop it you're giving me flashbacks!

http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/tu...-day-you-wish-you-never-touched-your-car.html

Glad things turned out OK.

 

[TurboBuRick]

Wow Joe! I think we just love to live on the edge and these cars push us closer and closer in so many ways.

Hey Glen I tryed to call you but could'nt get through. I think we might have set that chip to valet mode instead of disarm. Thats got to be the cutting out problem at half throttle. Give me a call.