Burned White GT
05-05-2004, 11:48 PM
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Burned White GT
Have received a number of pm's and TUK seemed stressed
about the White GT pic on another thread so I guess it is time to share the story.
I found the perfect 91 GT, "The One". Got lucky when Scott M had to take a patient call and snagged it, off e-bay no less, for $17,500. But that's another story.
Flew down to Houston to drive it back wondering what the heck I was missing, the ppi @ Koby's checked out perfect and they couldn't beleive what I picked it up for. So I figured the paint or interior would be offa bit but still a great deal. Got to MB of Houston and couldn't believe my eyes! It had to of suffered the easiest 57K ever! My dream car! Drove it back to Portland in 2 days and it was perfect.
About 1 month later I am replacing the fuel pumps. Get it all back together starts right up, of course and we are ready to roll. Look underneathe and there is a drop every 2 seconds or so coming from the check valve. Over the course of the next 3 evenings I tried everything I knew to get it to seal and it wouldn't, drip drip. Finally the call of shame. Uh Jim, I need you to send me a new check valve and steel hose. I think he questioned my ability that I couldn't get this thing to quit leaking. 2 days later I go home for lunch and there the box from 928I. Jump into my garage clothes and go cedout and tear it all apart and notice that in the pack of washers (3) 1 is thicker than the other, hmmm. Go inside make a sandwich, start the dishwasher and sit down to call Jim B. I'm eating my sandwich when and checking my e-mail when I hear something fall over in the garage, I think hmmm must be a cat out there. About 30 seconds later a louder noise like a jar breaking. This got me to thinking the garage door was closed, what's going on? Walk into the kitchen and the dishwasher which is by the laundry door which leads to the garage has steam pouring out of it. WTF??!! Get to the dishwasher and realize it isn't steam from the dishwasher but smoke coming through the door next to the dishwasher. I open the door and the laundry room is totally filled with smoke and VERY warm. When I opened the door I started hearing popping, tinkling noises.
I immediately shut the door and took a step towards the sink where there is a small extinguisher. As I am taking this step it dawns on me that there are 2 plastic 8 gallon cans full of gas in my garage and that was that. Grabbed the phone and ran out the door. 911 did a great job. I am glad they can get your address from the phone because I don't know that could couldve given it to them.
After the fire was extinguished and I was out talking to the firemen waiting for an investigator the only thing I could think that happened was I didn't unhook the battery, I had done this 5 or 6 times the last 4 days and had gotten careless. The inspector got there and I damn near dragged him to the back of the Shark. Raise the hatch and he goes to move the cargo cover back and his hand goes right through it, daggers in my heart. Raise the battery cover and.... the leads disconnected. I teared up, I was overjoyed I, personally, hadn't killed my Shark.
The inspector at the time called it a "cross ignition" caused by my freezer which was about 5' behind my Shark. A State Farm inspector initially blamed it on the halogen light (150W) sitting about 5' away. Neither reason really checks out. There were no "fan" markings from underneath the freezer and the halogen bulb wasn't busted. Final report states orgin of cross ignition undetermined. The initial "flash of the vapors was around 1600 degrees. Most of the damage was from heat not flame. The polyuerethane bumper was just gone.
I was able to get a little relief from what I was told by the fire inspector and the State Farm guy. Whatever made it flash most likely would have happened even if I didn't go into make the call to Jim B. I would be one miserable ****, if I were still alive.
I wouldn't let them take the car until an appraisor came out and told me what they were going to do. They totalled both my Turbo Saab (ragtop) and the 928. I have a pic of it being towed away. They sold me back the GT for 6k. For some reason I couldn't wait to get it back. The dude backs it up to my garage and we get it off the flatbed and he is doing his paper work. It's about 70 degrees out and I open the door, just feeling sick, stick my head in and WTF?! I call the tow truck dude over and he is kinda smiling and when I ask him to put his head the car he starts laughing and say he couldn't believe it. He had already been in when he was picking it up and all he smelled was leather!
This was about 8 weeks ago. I have done much clean up on the car since then and fiends now know that if you stop by you have to put your head in the GT to check for smoke smell, it's incredible. I already have a perfect bumper and pads, lights and many other parts that are needed. I will have a full repaint done this winter and when I finally get the White GT back on the road I think I will have a big lump in my throat.
about the White GT pic on another thread so I guess it is time to share the story. I found the perfect 91 GT, "The One". Got lucky when Scott M had to take a patient call and snagged it, off e-bay no less, for $17,500. But that's another story.
Flew down to Houston to drive it back wondering what the heck I was missing, the ppi @ Koby's checked out perfect and they couldn't beleive what I picked it up for. So I figured the paint or interior would be offa bit but still a great deal. Got to MB of Houston and couldn't believe my eyes! It had to of suffered the easiest 57K ever! My dream car! Drove it back to Portland in 2 days and it was perfect.
About 1 month later I am replacing the fuel pumps. Get it all back together starts right up, of course and we are ready to roll. Look underneathe and there is a drop every 2 seconds or so coming from the check valve. Over the course of the next 3 evenings I tried everything I knew to get it to seal and it wouldn't, drip drip. Finally the call of shame. Uh Jim, I need you to send me a new check valve and steel hose. I think he questioned my ability that I couldn't get this thing to quit leaking. 2 days later I go home for lunch and there the box from 928I. Jump into my garage clothes and go cedout and tear it all apart and notice that in the pack of washers (3) 1 is thicker than the other, hmmm. Go inside make a sandwich, start the dishwasher and sit down to call Jim B. I'm eating my sandwich when and checking my e-mail when I hear something fall over in the garage, I think hmmm must be a cat out there. About 30 seconds later a louder noise like a jar breaking. This got me to thinking the garage door was closed, what's going on? Walk into the kitchen and the dishwasher which is by the laundry door which leads to the garage has steam pouring out of it. WTF??!! Get to the dishwasher and realize it isn't steam from the dishwasher but smoke coming through the door next to the dishwasher. I open the door and the laundry room is totally filled with smoke and VERY warm. When I opened the door I started hearing popping, tinkling noises.
I immediately shut the door and took a step towards the sink where there is a small extinguisher. As I am taking this step it dawns on me that there are 2 plastic 8 gallon cans full of gas in my garage and that was that. Grabbed the phone and ran out the door. 911 did a great job. I am glad they can get your address from the phone because I don't know that could couldve given it to them.
After the fire was extinguished and I was out talking to the firemen waiting for an investigator the only thing I could think that happened was I didn't unhook the battery, I had done this 5 or 6 times the last 4 days and had gotten careless. The inspector got there and I damn near dragged him to the back of the Shark. Raise the hatch and he goes to move the cargo cover back and his hand goes right through it, daggers in my heart. Raise the battery cover and.... the leads disconnected. I teared up, I was overjoyed I, personally, hadn't killed my Shark.
The inspector at the time called it a "cross ignition" caused by my freezer which was about 5' behind my Shark. A State Farm inspector initially blamed it on the halogen light (150W) sitting about 5' away. Neither reason really checks out. There were no "fan" markings from underneath the freezer and the halogen bulb wasn't busted. Final report states orgin of cross ignition undetermined. The initial "flash of the vapors was around 1600 degrees. Most of the damage was from heat not flame. The polyuerethane bumper was just gone.
I was able to get a little relief from what I was told by the fire inspector and the State Farm guy. Whatever made it flash most likely would have happened even if I didn't go into make the call to Jim B. I would be one miserable ****, if I were still alive.
I wouldn't let them take the car until an appraisor came out and told me what they were going to do. They totalled both my Turbo Saab (ragtop) and the 928. I have a pic of it being towed away. They sold me back the GT for 6k. For some reason I couldn't wait to get it back. The dude backs it up to my garage and we get it off the flatbed and he is doing his paper work. It's about 70 degrees out and I open the door, just feeling sick, stick my head in and WTF?! I call the tow truck dude over and he is kinda smiling and when I ask him to put his head the car he starts laughing and say he couldn't believe it. He had already been in when he was picking it up and all he smelled was leather!
This was about 8 weeks ago. I have done much clean up on the car since then and fiends now know that if you stop by you have to put your head in the GT to check for smoke smell, it's incredible. I already have a perfect bumper and pads, lights and many other parts that are needed. I will have a full repaint done this winter and when I finally get the White GT back on the road I think I will have a big lump in my throat.
Last edited by Jim_H; 05-06-2004 at 01:15 AM.
05-06-2004, 12:09 AM
#7
Rennlist Member
WOW! Awesome story, Jim! Good thing you had the hatch closed. Looks like it's going to be a real sweet ride. Anyway, now I'm kind of glad I spilled the beans... in turn prompting you to spill the beans...
Anyway, sounds like a well-deserved lump! Enjoy!
P.S. to Jim Bailey: You never know when you might be saving a life by picking up that phone!
Anyway, sounds like a well-deserved lump! Enjoy!
P.S. to Jim Bailey: You never know when you might be saving a life by picking up that phone!
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05-06-2004, 12:17 AM
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Damn dude! Lucky for you, you were inside with that sandwich, or you would have been the rescue victim not the 928.
It's good to see that you're restoring it and not parting it out. Good luck with it
It's good to see that you're restoring it and not parting it out. Good luck with it
05-06-2004, 12:52 AM
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DAMMMM....I have a lump in MY throat after reading that!!
Especially.....as some of you may recall my CLOSE CALL
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=106075
Especially.....as some of you may recall my CLOSE CALL
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=106075
05-06-2004, 03:05 AM
#12
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Originally posted by Mark
DAMMMM....I have a lump in MY throat after reading that!!
Especially.....as some of you may recall my CLOSE CALL
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=106075
DAMMMM....I have a lump in MY throat after reading that!!
Especially.....as some of you may recall my CLOSE CALL
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...hreadid=106075
I DO remember that... that's one of the things that prompted me to go through my own fuse/relay panel, and to buy a halon extinguisher. The extinguisher has yet to be mounted, but I keep it on the floor in the back where I can get to it.
05-06-2004, 04:05 AM
#13
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OHMYGAWD! I'm glad you still have a home to live in! I'm also happy to hear you are comitted to preserving the life of the shark. Best of luck for the restauration process!
