Legoland951

I got done replacing the clutch in the car and forgot to reconnect the ground from the bell housing to the chassis. While cranking the car (about 5 seconds), the starter turned very slowly and then I smelled smoke. I turned the car off and got out of the car to find a small fire burning underneath the car between the rear tires. I am thinking WTF while getting the fire extinguisher in a hurry. In a few seconds, I found the STEEL BRAKE LINE ON FIRE and it was burning its way to the gas tank. THE STEEL LINE BECAME THE GROUND AND THE PLASTIC BURNED INSIDE THE STEEL BRAID CAUSING THE FIRE. I was able to put out the fire by blowing on it without using the extinguisher. Here are the aftermath pictures of the melted plastic with a puddle of brake fluid and the melted line.

Legoland951

Here is the puddle with the melted white plastic residue.

Legoland951

Here is the burnt line.

Z-man

That was a close one!

Glad that you're ok, and you can replace the line easily...

-Z.

Marc Gelefsky

Holy Sheeeee-it! hate when that happens, glad you saved the car!

JimV8

crazy, you wery lucky guy.

Legoland951

Thanks Z-man. I just replaced the front lines with new ones and have a set of new rear ones. I just got done bleeding the system with blue ATE fluid. I guess its back under the car again after replacing the clutch, starter, starter ring gear, rear suspension, control arms, torsion bars, uruthane bushings, exhaust, sway bars, and more. I am just getting burnt out (pun intended). Moral of the story, don't work on these darn cars when you are tired mentally or physically because after doing about 20 clutches in these cars, I still forget stupid stuff like the ground cable.

Matt H

Paging Sid V., Sid V. are you in the building :>)
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83na944

Remind me not to do that.

You're right. If you rush to get things done and lose you edge, you can make some serious mistakes. But its hard to imagine that such a simple mistake could create suvh a problem. Glad you managed to limit the damge with quick thinking.

SidViscous

What can I tell ya man.

Chris_924s

Yikes! no fires for us today.

Shutemup

That was a close one

washington951

oh, my - thats priceless. gotta love rennlist humor.

glad you and the car are safe - good, quick thinking.

SidViscous

Just for you guys.

Zero10

Jeez, it's a little funny though... I would have never imagined a bad ground would cause a brake line to light on fire.
No offense or anything, but that's one of the last things I would have thought would ground the engine.

Lucky that you caught that!