Too Hot to Trot!

[bsquared]

Had a rough night in the Bronco last Saturday. Went out for a nice sail with the wifey and just two blocks from the house ended up with my carb and air filter on fire!

I never really dialed in my secondaries on the Q-Jet when I installed it (bad move) and was romping on it on the backstretch to the house. Needless to say I:
A -Won't even start the Bronco w/o a fire extinguisher in it ever again.
B - Won't put off diailing in those secondaries again.

All in all, it wasn't too bad and the fire doesn't seem to have affected the harness. (melted the loom, but that's about it) Trying to put it out, went through my tire cover, a pullover and my wife's jacket. (which made a mess of things, but got the job done) No real injuries, so I feel very lucky and everything can be replaced.

I've been needing to have my engine bay repainted anyway, so I'm pulling the engine asap and taking her to my local painter. I'll get my valve covers and intake blasted and see if the shop can shoot them while they're at it.

Looks like I'll need:
Carb, coil, wires, hoses, air cleaner and a full tube of elbow grease! As always, what's a post without pictures, right?! I'll post pics of my progress.

Cheers, B2

 

[Slowleak]

Ouch! Glad it wasn’t worse.

I carry a Buckeye Halotron extinguisher. It’s a clean Halon type gas so there is no caustic residue causing more damage than the fire.....reusable and refillable too.
http://www.buckeyefire.com/halotron/

 

[sprdv1]

Damn Brian.. Sorry to hear that. Def coulda been a lot worst

 

[half cab]

Yeah I agree with Dave. ..could of been alot worse.

btw get two fire extinguishers! !

 

[SteveL]

Tell me it wasn't one of those little foam edelbrock air cleaners. They are known for flaming up. I had my 72 flare up a few years back from a fuel leak (not with that air cleaner). Naturally my old fire extinguisher didn't work. Maybe it was one of those recalled ones. I got lucky a guy was coming out of the store with a gallon of water. Needless to say the next day I wet to 4wp and dropped the cash for a couple good ones. It cost me a set of wires, distributor cap and new module for the hei

 

[JGbronc]

That sucks, but like already said the damage could've been a lot worse. More importantly I'm glad you and your wife are okay.

 

[sanndmann3]

Ouch! Glad it wasn’t worse.

I carry a Buckeye Halotron extinguisher. It’s a clean Halon type gas so there is no caustic residue causing more damage than the fire.....reusable and refillable too.
http://www.buckeyefire.com/halotron/

Thanks for the link. I'd like to find out more and will read up. My friends j**P had a similar carb fire and always carry extinguishers since then...

 

[triracer67]

Had a similar episode a few years back, I will always have a new extinguisher on board. Glad to hear both of you are safe.

 

[AZ73]

Might want to carry a few of these. No residual. Cheaper and safer than halon.

https://extinguishstick.com/#how-it-works

https://www.buydmi.com/Extinguish-Stick-Compact-Fire-Extinguisher-p/ce-0163-p1-1545.htm

 

[Godwick]

Damn! On such a beautiful rig, too! Makes me kinda want to get a fire extinguisher too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ScanmanSteven]

Fire extinguishers are required equipment. Never drive without one. With all the money and time invested what’s a few dollars more for a vehicle saver. Christmas is coming, great idea!

 

[bronconut73]

Got a big one in the '96 FSB
Got a medium one in the '73 eb.

I want to get one for the back of the eb too.
I presently have one mounted on the hump between the console and twin sticks.

 

[73azbronco]

Glad your OK, but I don't think that looks like secondary issue, that looks like a fuel leak issue. Any backfire inside the cleaner would have been drawn back into the motor.

 

[bsquared]

Hey Guys,
That is super good info and I think that is accurate on the foam Edelbrock air cleaner! I ordered it because it had the correct drop base for the Q-Jet. (have to check to be double dog sure)
I've got an industry bud that can hook me up with non-nasty type small fire extinguishers, so I'm going to see what that brings. I also have a hookup at work that might be able to do some snazzy painting for me, if I prep the stuff right. I'm thinking about going with something similar to the awesome Bronco featured in Bronco Driver.

How should I prep these aluminum valve covers for paint? (along with intake, if possible) I can have that done at my work, free gratis + paint cost, if I prep them right. Just have to have them media blasted to get all of the crap off? Your insight is appreciated!

Cheers, B2

 

[No Hay]

Hey Guys,
That is super good info and I think that is accurate on the foam Edelbrock air cleaner! I ordered it because it had the correct drop base for the Q-Jet. (have to check to be double dog sure)
I've got an industry bud that can hook me up with non-nasty type small fire extinguishers, so I'm going to see what that brings. I also have a hookup at work that might be able to do some snazzy painting for me, if I prep the stuff right. I'm thinking about going with something similar to the awesome Bronco featured in Bronco Driver.

How should I prep these aluminum valve covers for paint? (along with intake, if possible) I can have that done at my work, free gratis + paint cost, if I prep them right. Just have to have them media blasted to get all of the crap off? Your insight is appreciated!

Cheers, B2

Yep, the "non nasty type" is recommended. I learned of them with the C2 Vette. You won't see the nasty type in any of those cars. I think mine is called "Clean Guard."

Good to see the damage isn't too bad!

 

[SteveL]

I had one of those little foam air cleaners for flow and clearance with the q-jet. When my buddy saw it he warned me about it. When we took it off sure enough there were a couple burnt spots on the underside. Now I run the edelbrock elite triangle air cleaner with the k&n filter. It gives me enough hood clearance and clears the hei dizzy. I also run an offy manifold to eliminate the q-jet adapter

 

[phred]

We had a guys bronco catch fire at on of the early (2010) atlanta meet ups. I grabbed my firex and put it out quick. We towed him to a safe place in the lot. Talked Broncos for and hour or two and he went and got some new plug wires and down the road he went.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jckkys]

The cause of the fire is where your attention needs to be, if you want to avoid future damage. The secondary air valve has nothing to do with it. What was the fuel line made of. It wasn't steel tubing or it would still be there. The deepest charring is in front of the carb on the driver's side. That indicates the point of origin. Was there a rubber fuel hose running through that area? Did you use the integral fuel filter in the carb inlet or a plastic in line filter? Plastic fuel filters are a fire hazard. The OE Bronco air cleaner is by far the best from a fire safety standpoint.