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You aren't likely to have any idea of the fire source location without opening the hood. One option is to plan ahead and install a way to get Halon into the engine bay where you need it without opening the hood - e.g. jetted high above the engine - ideally along both sides. You could conceive of several ways to do this.
How about one of the systems that are essentially a long flexible hose filled with fire retardant? You run it under the hood of the car, when a fire starts - the hose melts and releases the fire retardant on the hottest spot.
Its simple, no maintenance, its automatic and doesn't require electricity, sensors or anything of the sort. They're also reasonably price and you could probably install it neatly inside the hood liner foam. The only concern I'd have is that the driver might not notice the fire suppression system going off and may not realize they have to stop and shut off the engine to cut off the fuel and air supply for the fire.
Quick googling reveals BlazeCut as one possible manufacturer but I'm sure there's others.
That's great...keep us posted on the rebuild.
I followed this thread, but did you ever post where it was determined how/where the fire started?
Also...how did a car that sat in Texas for 7 years end up in Nederland?
I think it was the fuel line that runs from the right fender to the fuel rail.
Seems that it somehow disintegrated, maybe because of E10 fuel incompatibility (all fuel here is nowadays E10...)
Probably bad luck that it started spraying over the hot exhaust or ignition rotor.
The story of the donor is also quite special, I found it at a company specialized in restoring old VW vans and Beetles.
They import quite a lot of cars from the USA, and they shipped it to NL a couple of months ago not knowing how special a 86.5 is ;-)
it is in a pretty rough shape, but it is complete, so an ideal donor.
Not sure if Im going to rebuild the fire damage car, or put all good parts of that car on to the donor.
Good luck on you path,
if the donor car has a solid chassis then it might be wise to swap your good parts into it after you get the donor car painted.
Since one of these cars will be seeing a paint job,
paint the one with the least paint coats and damage.
FWIW the fuel ignition source was one of the spark plug leads,
since they are hi voltage it only takes a small voltage leak to make a spark,
think, spark plug, spark.
NOTE the sparks jumping are very hard to see with the huge intake system of your model.
Fuel sprayed on a hot manifold will usually evaporate before it flashes to ignition.
but one spark from an errant plug wire will cause ignition instantly.
I can imagine the horrible feeling but I agree with the consensus, it should be reparable.
I bought this burnt 86 Euro and it wasn't too bad to fix at all.
"No clue what happened, the fuel lines were all changed ~3yrs back..."
Two possibilities:
1. On '85 and '86 engines, it is possible for the injector to fall out of the fuel rail and leak fuel, if the upper retaining clip is not properly installed on the injector.
2. Someone replaced the fuel lines with rubber hose and clamps, instead of using my fuel lines.
Hi Greg,
Dont want to rush you, but did you receive my e-mail for a quote request for the lines?
The rebuild is moving along quite quickly, and really want your lines on the engine :-)
Dont want to rush you, but did you receive my e-mail for a quote request for the lines?
The rebuild is moving along quite quickly, and really want your lines on the engine :-)
Cheers
Michel
Best thing to do would be to call/ email him.
PM'ing him on here is a distant second because he will be notified that you sent him a message. Commenting on a post wont do that so it;s hit or miss if he will see it.
Looking back on the fire I had it was the best thing that ever happened. If it hadn't been for the fire I would not have the super car I have today. Now everything in the car is fresh and reliable. I just put about 2000 miles on it last week on a long trip with no issues. Well, one issue, the ODO stopped. Not a big deal. Since the fire I have put about 17,000 miles on it without issues.
Yep, I am not too worried about it. Everything will be as good as new, so that is great.
Last Friday my Body/Paint guy finished work on the body, so I can start rebuilding stuff.
04-02-2019, 05:44 PM
