A moment of silence please....

[cybrfire]

You conveyed what happened pretty accurately, but you didn't sound terribly concerned about it. Glad it didn't get to the tanks. I know you're just going to refuse again, but the offer to borrow mine is still there if/when you need it.

Does this mean there's a big block core for sale?

I guess it doesn't do much good to run around cryin' in my beer. I was kinda down about the whole thing but that didn't last too long. Mostly the adrenaline dump I think.

Yeah, um no. No way in hell I want to be driving somebody elses rig right now. Especially since you just got it done.

Possibly a core for sale. For all I know it has a hole in the side of it or worse.

 

[cybrfire]

Isn't ironic you had a motor sitting in the back when the motor in the truck blew?

If you want Ironic, I have it for you. My 7 year old was running around the house this morning with a firemans hat on, playing pretend firefighter.

Kinda scary.

So what exactly happened? I read your account of the morning, but I don't understand what caused the fire? Sorry if I'm missing something obvious (nobody else seems to be asking so I'm probably missing it), but I'd like to know in case my truck acts that way some day I know what to disconnet/do different to make sure there is no fire. That scares me to death...I'd be sooooo sad.

To be honest, at this point I don't know for sure what actually happened. Only thing I can say is the oil hosed down an exhaust pipe or what have you and started it up. I would have expected that to have happened quicker though.

What were the specs on the truck?

454/465/205 60 and 14b. I believe it has 4.56's in it as well but never did check to be sure.

 

[obijuan]

Depressing for sure, sorry for your loss. Will y'all be closed this week for mourning? We understand.

 

[imiceman44]

From your description I want to say it's what happened to mine, except I cought it before it was too late and was able to patch it up and drive another 300 mies to get home.
I had a minor valve cover leak that was dripping on my exhaust manifold, on short trips it wouldn't be bad but the last trip I made 500 miles it got hot, and all the accumulated oil on the manifold caught fire, burning anything flamable within range including vacuum hoses, spark plug wires and that's when it started to sputter, I slow down and see smoke.
I pull over open the hood and I see flame shooting out of the carb area, the fuel hose was burning so I throw a blanket I had with me at it and put out the fire, then I salvage what hoses I could and get it running, I pull in front of the house and it starts to die I jump and open the hood, and put out the fire, this time it took out all the sprk plug wires and the electrical wires that feed the ignition.
I changed the wires and the gasket and the fuel hose and got it running good and sold it and it still runs with the new owner no problems.

 

[cybrfire]

Depressing for sure, sorry for your loss. Will y'all be closed this week for mourning? We understand.

No time to mourn. Lots of work at the shop. Got to keep moving.

From your description I want to say it's what happened to mine, except I cought it before it was too late and was able to patch it up and drive another 300 mies to get home.
I had a minor valve cover leak that was dripping on my exhaust manifold, on short trips it wouldn't be bad but the last trip I made 500 miles it got hot, and all the accumulated oil on the manifold caught fire, burning anything flamable within range including vacuum hoses, spark plug wires and that's when it started to sputter, I slow down and see smoke.
I pull over open the hood and I see flame shooting out of the carb area, the fuel hose was burning so I throw a blanket I had with me at it and put out the fire, then I salvage what hoses I could and get it running, I pull in front of the house and it starts to die I jump and open the hood, and put out the fire, this time it took out all the sprk plug wires and the electrical wires that feed the ignition.
I changed the wires and the gasket and the fuel hose and got it running good and sold it and it still runs with the new owner no problems.

That does sound like a pretty good comparison of what happened. Could be that very thing.

 

[rdn2blazer]

WOW! Very sorry to hear Kert. Could have been soooo much worse. Thank god you, or anyone else was not hurt.

 

[cybrfire]

WOW! Very sorry to hear Kert. Could have been soooo much worse. Thank god you, or anyone else was not hurt.

Thanks bud. As it occured I don't think anybody was ever in any danger. That's always a good thing.

 

[munepit]

Damm, that sucks Kert! Glad you didn't pull it in the shop! Could have been soo much worse. At least your employee showed up on time or it could have been worse.

 

[Big Ray]

From your description I want to say it's what happened to mine, except I cought it before it was too late and was able to patch it up and drive another 300 mies to get home.
I had a minor valve cover leak that was dripping on my exhaust manifold, on short trips it wouldn't be bad but the last trip I made 500 miles it got hot, and all the accumulated oil on the manifold caught fire, burning anything flamable within range including vacuum hoses, spark plug wires and that's when it started to sputter, I slow down and see smoke.
I pull over open the hood and I see flame shooting out of the carb area, the fuel hose was burning so I throw a blanket I had with me at it and put out the fire, then I salvage what hoses I could and get it running, I pull in front of the house and it starts to die I jump and open the hood, and put out the fire, this time it took out all the sprk plug wires and the electrical wires that feed the ignition.
I changed the wires and the gasket and the fuel hose and got it running good and sold it and it still runs with the new owner no problems.

The old motor in my burb does that, same reason. It would backfire (when I first got it) and sparks/flame would come out from the heat riser valve on the exhaust.

The accumulated gunk catches so easy...I carried a 2 liter of soda whenever I drove it. shake it, voilà, instant fire extinguisher!


Hasn't happened since I timed it properly! This is the burb the new motor is going in...soon, very very soon....

 

[blazinzuk]

Doooooooddddeeeee,

that sucks man, I had the same thing happen to me with a truck but I caught it in enough time to save most of the truck.

Just a truck no one got hurt, thats the important thing. Fires scare me

 

[Fordum]

Now just hang on a minute.
Don't blame you if you want to scrap it. When something like that happens to something you have put a lot of time in, its so discouraging you just don't want to have anymore to do with it.

But, I have been involved in a car fire or two. And from what I can see, you might want to think about this some.

I know it looks awful, but its really not all that bad comparatively. The motor may or may not be ruined.
The tires look OK, which means the heat did not get hot enough to catch them or cause them to blow out.
In that case, the front end should be OK, along with the frame.
Transmission and all the running gear should be fine. Springs are still arched, and even the paint is mostly blackened, not burned off to clean metal.

Looks to me like you can pull the cab off, bed looks ok. Rebuild the engine, pick up a wiring kit, replace the brake lines in front. Both rubber and steel, since if the steel got hot enough, they are going to rust.

Parts of the cab will be usable. If it burned down to clean metal, then its going to rust fast. You might save it by spraying something like a mix of kerosene and 30w until you can get around to stripping and painting it.

After that, its just a matter of scrounging and checking with folks here. I'll bet most of the dash stuff and plastic parts are sitting in various K5er's shops and garages.

If you forget that it was caused by fire, and just inventory the damage, its not much more than I have seen pictures of coming back from a hard trail ride with this bunch.

Plus, there a trucks riding around that were in a heck of a lot worse shape when some of these idiots fools ambitious folks bought them.

 

[crashandburn]

wow that really sucks man. I guess you guys are just lucky it didn't burst into flames in tow. That would have been crazy!

step on it!!!

 

[76zimmer]

Doooooooddddeeeee,

that sucks man, I had the same thing happen to me with a truck but I caught it in enough time to save most of the truck.

Just a truck no one got hurt, thats the important thing. Fires scare me

Me too...especially with fiberglass

Sorry to hear Kert.

 

[muddermilitia]

Its a sad day in CK5 land (puts hat to heart and bows head for 1 minute)

 

[cybrfire]

Now just hang on a minute.
Don't blame you if you want to scrap it. When something like that happens to something you have put a lot of time in, its so discouraging you just don't want to have anymore to do with it.

But, I have been involved in a car fire or two. And from what I can see, you might want to think about this some.

I know it looks awful, but its really not all that bad comparatively. The motor may or may not be ruined.
The tires look OK, which means the heat did not get hot enough to catch them or cause them to blow out.
In that case, the front end should be OK, along with the frame.
Transmission and all the running gear should be fine. Springs are still arched, and even the paint is mostly blackened, not burned off to clean metal.

Looks to me like you can pull the cab off, bed looks ok. Rebuild the engine, pick up a wiring kit, replace the brake lines in front. Both rubber and steel, since if the steel got hot enough, they are going to rust.

Parts of the cab will be usable. If it burned down to clean metal, then its going to rust fast. You might save it by spraying something like a mix of kerosene and 30w until you can get around to stripping and painting it.

After that, its just a matter of scrounging and checking with folks here. I'll bet most of the dash stuff and plastic parts are sitting in various K5er's shops and garages.

If you forget that it was caused by fire, and just inventory the damage, its not much more than I have seen pictures of coming back from a hard trail ride with this bunch.

Plus, there a trucks riding around that were in a heck of a lot worse shape when some of these idiots fools ambitious folks bought them.

No decisions will be made in a final sense until the spring thaw. I do want to get out there and inspect things a little bit this weekend though. Maybe I can snap some pictures of some of the carnage.

I know the fire was hot enough to make the springs on the hood come off. I tried to open the hood to get a photo or two and noticed the springs were gone.

 

[y5mgisi]

What a bummer! I liked that truck!

 

[boggerless]

well i a'm sorry to hear/ see this brother..i watched one go up at a major intersection last summer.not cool at all.

 

[Fordum]

I know the fire was hot enough to make the springs on the hood come off. I tried to open the hood to get a photo or two and noticed the springs were gone.

Yep, that hood helps hold the heat and let it build up. I have seen otherwise small fires melt the aluminum carb all the way down into the cast iron intake.

That is why I mentioned the engine may not be any good. I have seen it warp blocks and even melt aluminum intakes.

But, from the pictures it looks like your fire mostly went up. I'm sure some dripped down, but I think the snow and your otherwise quick action kept the heat high up. If so, then basically what you have is a truck with a bad engine and trashed cab.

If you are able to save the sheet metal, iffy on the cab, I'm sure the hood is gone. Then you have one advantage, if you can call it that, of living in the rust belt.

That which burns, does not rust.
In other words, the plastic and fiberglass parts you are going to need are what is left over when the salt gets through with other trucks.

 

[KansasTwister]

hey fordum, you know this guys owns a full fab shop right? Trust me, he has spares, but sadly i liked this truck as well.



Makes me want to change the valve cover gaskets on the 83, i know they leak (As does the front cover seal pretty bad).

 

[Teck]

Sorry to hear about your truck.