Heartbroken...my 1973 caught fire -- Follow the restoration here!

[BoureeOne]

I think the lesson we could all learn from this is first, marry a really cool woman, and second, if you marry that really cool woman, and you want to majorly upgrade and rebuild your rig, then stage a fire!!!!!!

Seriously, nothing can prepare anyone for what you must be feeling. Now go make it even better than it was before.... Also, now is the perfect time for you to really show your wife how important she is to you. In this really difficult time, out of work, bronco just burned, if you show that she is still in your thoughts and in your heart. Most men would just be so consumed by the events that you are going through, to not even think about a nice surprise for the wife. Send her some flowers, a really nice card, or even better, a hand written personal note. When she sees that no matter what is going on in your life, that you still are thinking about her, WOW....... For all I know she may already know this about ya... But just a thought.

Scott

 

[Unknown]

That Sucks! As all have said here, pick up the pieces and move ahead. Try to investigate and find the cause so yo can learn from it. Then clean it up, start pulling parts and making a list of what you need. If everyone reading this post sent you a good used replacement part they've got laying around, and along with some new, we could get this thing back up and running fast. Create a rebuild tread with a list of what you need and I'll see if I can send something. I know you hate to take a handout but I'm offering so make up a parts list.

 

[70 Steed]

Sorry to hear about your fire. Do you have insurance. If so get an adjuster to look at it before you do anything. There is a great shop in San Leandro on Lewelling called Pete's Hydramatic Service. Don't be fooled by the name. There's nobody named Pete there and they don't do hydramatic service. What they do is high end restorations at a very reasonable price. I've had a lot of work done on my Bronco and some on my GTO. Call 510-481-2025 and talk to Brett. Tell him Skip referred you. Brett can do it all, mechanical, electrical, fabrication, paint and body.

 

[motoman]

That is a real heart breaker! I am glad you are getting the emotional support you need at home and here on CB......

 

[Oakland Bronco]

First of all, thank you all for the kind words of support and encouragement. And for bringing me back down to earth. In the heat of the moment, I was crushed, and feeling like all was lost. But you're right; it could have been a lot worse, and it can be fixed! When I bought the rig, it was pretty much finished. I really liked it, but it was someone else's vision, so I'm going to make some changes to make it my own (or should I say, I'm going to have a shop do the changes, as I've never worked on a car, don't have the tools, or a garage in which to work on it).

When I got back to the house with the tow truck, I noticed that there was a liquid trail that followed the route I had backed up that morning, and a little bit of the way that I drove forward. I am certain that wasn't there before I left the house yesterday AM. And there were little pieces of thick, clear broken glass on the ground underneath where my engine would have sat. Is it possible that the glass fuel filter broke and sprayed fuel on the distributor (that was ground zero of the fire)? I'm thinking it didn't ignite when I left because the engine was cold, and then I was driving at freeway speeds which might have kept a flame from igniting. Then, when I left my friend's house, and was sitting in stop-and-go traffic, up it went. The fuel filter had been sitting next to the distributor.

I'll respond to a few individual posts, and will get pics back up once the rig is getting fixed. Thanks again to all!

 

[Oakland Bronco]

Oh man...........Glad you're ok, and had an extinguisher. Looks fixable, still sucks to be without your bronco though. Hope you find someone to help you get it going again.

Unfortunately, the extinguisher didn't get the fire out. Even a second, larger one didn't. My buddies raced up with a 5 gallon bucket of water. That did the trick for the engine bay. A third extinguisher was needed to attack the fire under the dash.

 

[Oakland Bronco]

I know how you feel, I felt like smashing my head against a brick wall.

Sounds about right. That and crying. After the fire was out, and I was waiting for the tow truck, my buddies called and asked if I needed anything. Yes, please, some waters, and bourbon. Three double shots and a water back...

 

[Oakland Bronco]

I think the lesson we could all learn from this is first, marry a really cool woman, and second, if you marry that really cool woman, and you want to majorly upgrade and rebuild your rig, then stage a fire!!!!!!

I'm very fortunate. She is quite selfless and supports me in everything I undertake. I told her that I was going to take this as an opportunity to make some changes (e.g. full cage, 3-point seat belts, etc) and she is on board. And my mother-in-law even offered to loan me some money to get the work started!;D

 

[Oakland Bronco]

I know you hate to take a handout but I'm offering so make up a parts list.

I very much appreciate your kindness and generosity. Thank you!

 

[Oakland Bronco]

Do you have insurance.

Yeah, comprehensive with Geico, which means I won't get squat and they will total the rig if I file a claim. I was just in the process of researching the forum for stated value insurance, so I'm trying not to kick myself.

 

[half cab]

Unfortunately, the extinguisher didn't get the fire out. Even a second, larger one didn't. My buddies raced up with a 5 gallon bucket of water. That did the trick for the engine bay. A third extinguisher was needed to attack the fire under the dash.

I have one in my Bronco now and was thinking about putting a 2nd one in it and after reading the obove....OB I wonder now how many Fire Ex.s would be enuff??

 

[Oakland Bronco]

I have one in my Bronco now and was thinking about putting a 2nd one in it and after reading the obove....OB I wonder now how many Fire Ex.s would be enuff??

Yeah, the fire kept going out but would immediately flare back up once I let off the trigger. I suspect I was only attacking one side of the fire since it had spread to the dash. I'm definitely getting two fire extinguishers once she is back up and running.

 

[half cab]

Yea I am for sure putting the second one in now!!

 

[LTL4life]

Man thats horrible, i hate to hear about this. This is coming from someone who lost one to a fire in my garage that ruined 2 vehicles. Although the bronco was driven out of what was left of a garage, i had no insurance on it, lost all my tools and garage. I had to get rid of it. Its great that you will rebuild it. First thing i bought for my new ride was a Battery disconnect, there is already a fire extinguisher in it,

 

[Oakland Bronco]

Man thats horrible, i hate to hear about this. This is coming from someone who lost one to a fire in my garage that ruined 2 vehicles. Although the bronco was driven out of what was left of a garage, i had no insurance on it, lost all my tools and garage. I had to get rid of it. Its great that you will rebuild it. First thing i bought for my new ride was a Battery disconnect, there is already a fire extinguisher in it,

Sorry to hear about your fire. That must have been one heck of an emotional roller coaster.

You know, I have a battery disconnect in the engine bay. But in the heat of the moment, it didn't occur to me to pull it, though I'm not sure I could have put my hand in there without getting burned. I am definitely going to rebuild.

 

[MarsChariot]

I totally appreciate your situation, having also had a similar situation, land lost one Bronco and had to totally rebuild the other.
http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174049
But in your case, I think that a tear down and rebuild, while extensive enough, will be doable. The main thing will be getting the engine stripped down to the block and intake. At that point a cleaning and repainting will fix the worse of it. The rest will be all the things that bolt onto the engine and in the engine compartment. Also a new wire harness, especially since the instrument panel got toasted. The fenders need to come off, mainly on the passenger side to remove and replace the air vent box. Of course a new hood is going to be necessary. The instrument panel should come out and get refreshed while you are doing the new harness. Then a complete re-paint. A lot of work, but better than building a complete Bronco.

 

[tw322]

Man that really sucks but on the bright side..you got the fire out and it isn't a total loss. I would x2 what the great Justino said and contact Andrew in Saratoga. I picked up a part earlier this year at his house and saw his work. Good dude and does really nice work. Hope to see a finished product in the near future. Good luck!

 

[Tedster100]

Man, that's a really bad day! Sorry to hear about the fire but glad everyone is ok. When things like this happen I alway try to remember the old saying "There are no problems, only opportunities" For me it's usually the opportunity not to do the same stupid thing twice%). You have the opportunity to re-build, re-wire and make it better than before. You've got a great wife who is already on-board and nobody got hurt so things are looking up already!

 

[BronCowie]

... I really liked it, but it was someone else's vision, so I'm going to make some changes to make it my own (or should I say, I'm going to have a shop do the changes, as I've never worked on a car, don't have the tools, or a garage in which to work on it)...

Glad you're OK man. Think about finding a place to work on it, buy some basic tools to get started, get a local buddy to help you, and do a lot of the basic stuff yourself. It's great therapy. Good luck!

 

[Tasty Geezer]

I had the same thing happen to my first bronco...it wasn't as bad but everything plastic and rubber under the hood melted. I remember thinking after I replaced everything that it wasn't as bad or hard as I thought it would be. I hope that is the case with yours.

You will get through it...and be driving the ole girl again before you know it