Bob Zetnick Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I recently bought a '24 Dodge. I was practicing driving it and the car was backfiring and had little power. I have a '24 instruction book and felt I was doing everything right, but apparentl;y carb had leaked onto block and then caught fire. Luckily fire was contained to engine bay, but paint on hood/ cowl / radiator as well as all wiring and who knows what else will have to be redone. Anyone else have a similar situation w/ carb? ...a shield or something? I am kinda heartbroken w/ the situation, just don't know what to troubleshoot in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22touring Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Sorry to hear about this, Bob. Incidents like this are something we all dread, and are when you wish you had, or are glad that you have, comprehensive insurance coverage. I guess the first couple of things I would do after getting the vehicle running again is to check for a sunk carb float that would allow the carb bowl to overflow, and if the float is OK then I would run the car at idle and watch for leaks from the carb. I am sure your Dodge Brethren will have additional condolences and recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jari12 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 So sorry to hear about the car. I completely understand the heartbreak. I'm heartbroken for you, it is such a beautiful car. I am sure you will get it looking and working just as good. Good Luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 So sorry to read about a car fire. I had my own little issues with a "wiring under the dashboard" fire. SCARY and not good. I went ahead and got a new wiring harness. I always carry a fire extinguisher in the car, now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 11, 2017 Author Share Posted February 11, 2017 7 minutes ago, keiser31 said: So sorry to read about a car fire. I had my own little issues with a "wiring under the dashboard" fire. SCARY and not good. I went ahead and got a new wiring harness. I always carry a fire extinguisher in the car, now. I was going to get an extinguisher for the car as I have one for the '29, but I was wanting to drive the car first....never thinking the first time I drive it that it would catch on fire! I have definitely learned a lesson! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearchoclatetown Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Bob, have you figured out where the fire started? There should be nothing on the left side to start a fire except MAYBE the generator. DO you have the engine pans in? Sorry for your lose, hope it works out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 2 hours ago, Bob Zetnick said: I was going to get an extinguisher for the car as I have one for the '29, but I was wanting to drive the car first....never thinking the first time I drive it that it would catch on fire! I have definitely learned a lesson! Yeah. I actually had two fires. The first was under the hood and I put it out with my hand squeezing the wires as tight as I could (no fire extinguisher that day). I had quite the brand on my fingers and hand for a while.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 2 hours ago, nearchoclatetown said: Bob, have you figured out where the fire started? There should be nothing on the left side to start a fire except MAYBE the generator. DO you have the engine pans in? Sorry for your lose, hope it works out. I think it was that the carb was flooded and dripped onto hot engine block......not really sure....the car backfired a few times and I couldn't seem to get any power.....I pulled over and then noticed the flames coming from hood louvers. It looks like most damage is to paint on hood / cowl and wiring / hoses. I was fortunate that the fire busted the radiator hose and that the water sprayed out most of fire....fire dept was there in less than 5 minutes and put rest out. Yes, engine pans are in. I guess I have 2 project cars now though I did get insurance on it the week before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cahartley Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 I can't imagine how a leaky carb, if it was leaking, could cause a fire on that side of the engine. Even it leaked the gas would only land on the ground. The exhaust is on the other side of the side of the engine so....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 (edited) Did/does your carb have a flame arrester. I always thought the device on my carb was an air cleaner to keep out the big stones but realize now, after reading my parts book, that it is a flame arrester to prevent exactly what happened to you. Yours won't be exactly like this but should be similar. Good Luck. Edited February 12, 2017 by Guest (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 11 hours ago, cahartley said: I can't imagine how a leaky carb, if it was leaking, could cause a fire on that side of the engine. Even it leaked the gas would only land on the ground. The exhaust is on the other side of the side of the engine so....... Not my photo, but my engine like this.....the carb could have leaked gas on the block as you can see where block flares out...engine pans also there.....it could have been a backfire that lit it?...maybe gas on generator? I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 (edited) Sorry to hear about your car Bob. It sounds very fixable though. I too am a bit puzzled how leaking from carb started a fire although leaking fuel might not all drain from the hole under carb in the engine splash pan. A backfire could then ignite whatever fuel had not drained (engine block shouldn't get hot enough to do that). I'd think it would have to be a pretty large leak to do that since there's very little on that side of the engine to sustain fire except the generator cable insulation. As for the flame arrester, nice idea but the DB carb intake is pointed toward the block (and may or may not have a tube going between cylinders 2 and 3 connecting to exhaust manifold air heater) and so it would have to be something custom fabricated to fit it the tight space. I'm getting a fire extinguisher before getting mine out in the spring... Edited February 12, 2017 by MikeC5 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 9 hours ago, Tinindian said: Did/does your carb have a flame arrester. I always thought the device on my carb was an air cleaner to keep out the big stones but realize now, after reading my parts book, that it is a flame arrester to prevent exactly what happened to you. Yours won't be exactly like this but should be similar. Good Luck. Again, not my photo, but my engine like this...haven't looked closely at the carb, but don't know where mine would accept something like this....my '29 has a filter / arrester on it something like this, but not sure how to adape to a '24. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 12, 2017 Author Share Posted February 12, 2017 3 minutes ago, MikeC5 said: Sorry to hear about your car Bob. It sounds very fixable though. I too am a bit puzzled how leaking from carb started a fire although leaking fuel might not all drain from the hole under carb in the engine splash pan. A backfire could then ignite whatever fuel had not drained (engine block shouldn't get hot enough to do that). I'd think it would have to be a pretty large leak to do that since there's very little (anything?) on that side of the engine to sustain fire. As for the flame arrester, nice idea but the DB carb intake is pointed toward the block (and may or may not have a tube going between cylinders 2 and 3 connecting to exhaust manifold air heater) and so it would have to be something custom fabricated to fit it the tight space. I'm getting a fire extinguisher before getting mine out in the spring... Thanks....yeah, I wish I had bought a fire extinguisher for it before taking it out on my first run! I guess then that a backfire could have ignited it ... it did seem to flood out.....it is fixable, but just sickening as I had just got it that morning..I was just excited to test drive in in the neighborhood. Paint on hood, cowl and radiator shell was only area affected.....will need new wiring, lacing and hoses....test components out....amazingly paint on block just seems sooty and cleans up nicely from what I can see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I put a new harness on mine from Rhode Island Wiring and was very happy with it. I can understand the excitement to test drive... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cahartley Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 13 hours ago, Bob Zetnick said: Not my photo, but my engine like this.....the carb could have leaked gas on the block as you can see where block flares out...engine pans also there.....it could have been a backfire that lit it?...maybe gas on generator? I don't know. I have a '24 so I know what the score is. That part of the block doesn't get hot enough to burn a finger much less start a fire. And still have no idea how a fire could have started on that side....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 13, 2017 Author Share Posted February 13, 2017 5 hours ago, cahartley said: I have a '24 so I know what the score is. That part of the block doesn't get hot enough to burn a finger much less start a fire. And still have no idea how a fire could have started on that side....... So, you don't think a backfire through flooded carb could have started a fire on a block that had gas on it? Just where I was heading in thought from the comments I'm getting.....I'm sure I'll be talking to you more as I get through this process on my '24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 13, 2017 Author Share Posted February 13, 2017 11 hours ago, MikeC5 said: I put a new harness on mine from Rhode Island Wiring and was very happy with it. I can understand the excitement to test drive... Thanks...yes, I have used them on another car and the harness fit perfectly......I will use them on this car too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cahartley Posted February 13, 2017 Share Posted February 13, 2017 I think a backfire would be far more likely to have occurred in the exhaust due to too rich a mixture (don't ask me how I know....... ) Last Summer when I was fiddling trying the get the timing right in mine the cylinders loaded up with gas and there was a gigantic B O O M which blew the muffler apart like a spent firecracker....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted February 14, 2017 Author Share Posted February 14, 2017 44 minutes ago, cahartley said: I think a backfire would be far more likely to have occurred in the exhaust due to too rich a mixture (don't ask me how I know....... ) Last Summer when I was fiddling trying the get the timing right in mine the cylinders loaded up with gas and there was a gigantic B O O M which blew the muffler apart like a spent firecracker....... I heard some from the exhaust too, but there were some pops in the engine bay too....I guess I'm not sure how it started now, but most soot and fire was near the carb. Adjuster was out to see car today...maybe be able to get car on road to recovery starting next week....hope to find out what started the fire so it can be fixed....don't think I'd wanna be around when your muffler blew...sounds a lot like an old mailbox I blew up w/ an M80 as a kid! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 14, 2017 Share Posted February 14, 2017 I was taught in Auto Shops that a "back fire" by definition was back through the carb. The term "after fire" was used for an explosion that happened anywhere in the exhaust system. Mind you I realize that time and common usage can change things in sixty years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted February 16, 2017 Share Posted February 16, 2017 Back vs. after described as such is also aviation terminology. - CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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