Truck Fire!!!
 

:gmc2: Hi guys Im a Junior in High school. My first car/truck was a 72 GMC C20. 350 motor TH350 trans. I painted it Orange and white. I did some engine work and interior. I put glass packs and headers on it. It sounded great. The trans blew up after owning it for less than a year. No I wasn't racing it or beating on it, I always baby it. I think it was the original trans never rebuilt. I dropped the trans with a buddy and I took it to AAMCO to be rebuilt. It ran good for the rest of the summer then I parked it for winter and put a cover over it. Here comes spring and all seems good I put around 30 miles of city driving on it. Spring break comes and goes. Then the first day back. Im driving it to school I had gone less than 2 miles and I feel no power I look at my tach it reads 0! I let off on the gas and it came back to life momentarily I pulled over only to have tons of smoke starts billowing out from under the hood. I open the hood only to find the engine compartment is on fire. I started freaking out. I called 911 then my dad and they showed up about the same time, even though the fire department is right across the street. Fire fighters decide to piss me off by opening the hood with a pry bar even though the latch is right there. I got pissed and yelled at him then he called over a cop who was directing traffic. As the cop is walking over another firefighter comes walking over with an axe. I went ballistic and told him there was no way in hell he was using that on MY truck. He was a prick and said "I don't give a ****" I told him to F himself. He didnt use the axe thank god. I talked to neighbor of mine also just in high school. he said he saw flamed under the truck a good 3/4 mile back before the truck died. IDK why he didn't say anything or do anything. But, anyway enough of that. Im looking into parts and Im not sure what kind of wiring harness to get. Ive ordered parts from "classic truck parts of America they specialize in old GM trucks. I've been very satisfied. Ive seen a classic wiring update kit for like $500 ouch and a universal harness for half the price. suggestions would be much appreciated thanks a lot guys!

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

The main this is that you are OK.

Threads like these make me want to put a fire suppression system under the hood. I carry a CO2 extinguisher in my car and plan one for the truck.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Why not open it yourself? That would solve the problem. They probably just figured that's how they usually do it. Like the other poster said at least your ok. Truck can be fixed. Check out the harness for autowire I think it's called. People here seem to like it and it's in my future plans for our truck.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I have heard good things about American Auto Wire. I have a couple of old chevy's and I plan on giving them a call

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

We cannot expect most people, let alone most firefighters, to know our trucks' hoods open from the outside, without a cable and yet, some have been customized so that they do!

OP: could you have put it our yourself, if you had had a fire extinguisher? I plan to mount one to the transmission hump in my truck.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Great first post.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I had a truck fire once! Learned an expensive lesson!
I lived to tell the tale as it sounds like you did!
You got pics of the carnage??
You know the saying.
It ain't true without pics!!

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

did you have a hanymans cheapo rubber gas line that cvaused the fire??

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Give this guy a call. He has a real nice wiring harness for sale. Nicest one I found on Craigslist.
http://binghamton.craigslist.org/pts/4957387117.html

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Good question. What about a plastic or glass fuel filter under the hood that I keep reading on here are bad ideas?

Hold it.....let me get this straight since now I'm a bit more awake than I was at 3 AM this morning. A man that might not have been getting paid for it (was this a municipal or volunteer fire department?) tried to save your truck and you yelled, cursed, and called him names?

Really classy man. I wonder what your post would be had they packed up their toys and gone home.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Sorry to hear this happened young man.

Not to give you a hard time or be like a lawyer but you wrote "I pulled over only to have tons of smoke starts billowing out from under the hood. I open the hood only to find the engine compartment is on fire". Then you later write "Fire fighters decide to piss me off by opening the hood with a pry bar even though the latch is right there" So what really happened?

As far as the cause of the fire, I'd bet old rubber fuel lines or worse those cheap plastic or glass filters are likely the cause. That's why all fuel lines on these 40+ year old vehicles need to be replaced ideally with hard lines and/or braided non conductive PTFE lined hose. Additives in the crap gas sold today attack rubber lines swelling them up and breaking them down from the inside out.

As far as a new wiring harness for the truck. AAW makes an excellent classic update kit. Well worth the money. You can get them even on RockAuto. Do the job right the 1st time.

Lastly, why not go over to the fire station in a few days to drop off some food and a thank you card. After all they did save your truck. Tell em you appreciate the tough job they do and maybe you got a little excited. It will go a long way.....

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I'd join the forum as a member then post a WTB for a good OEM harness on the parts board. Not too hard to locate a usable OEM harness or one that can be refurbished.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Yeah no kidding,thanks for stopping by with a great first post proving some people should stick to driving Hondas.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Guy's, he is a junior in high school, give him a break.

AAW is a good kit but if you can I would try and find a correct replacement unless you plan on rewiring the whole truck. It is not cheap, believe me, I have looked it up.


Changing the rubber fuel lines is a great idea. These older vehicles could have issues with the newer fuel. They do make a metal fuel line that runs from the fuel pump to the carb. If your truck has does not have this you might want to change to the metal line.

I have run the plastic and glass filters for years and never had an issue. Maybe I have just been lucky. But installing a newer/better filter is a great idea also.

Just be thankful your truck did not burn to the ground. And yes, I would go thank the fire fighters. Maybe bring them a couple dozen doughnuts or something.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I'd bring a case of beer and a box of doughnuts.. The beer may be illegal for him to possess at that age but being a former fire fighter, the beer will go over well. :ito:

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I am a volunteer fire fighter, I do it cause I like to serve my community. When metal gets hot it contorts and moves and most of the time that is the only way to get it open, also all new cars the latch is operated by a cable which becomes useless when it gets hot. When you call the FD the property becomes the fire dept's until it is safe to be turned back over to the owner. With your hot head attitude you are lucky that there is anything left to rebuild. There is no rule as to how fast we have to put it out and your attitude dictates a lot. You say your daddy got there the same time as the FD so I assume he saw your childish actions. He should have taken you home and beat your ass. The firemen were only doing their job as they were trained to do.....

My only suggestion to you is to grow up and go apologize to the firemen!

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I put new fuel lines on it when I got the truck. They weren't leaking. I pulled the motor and the trans today. Fuel lines were still in tact other than the one that runs to the carb. and that's because it was directly in the fire. That line was still very flexible and not stiff. so I'm having a hard time believing it was fuel related. I believe brake fluid is to blame. I didn't even think the stuff was that flammable. But when I pulled the motor there was a clear liquid that did not smell like gas that had pooled on the engine cross member. It has to be brake fluid it was too far away from the driver side to be power steering. I was sure I had leaking brakes on the front passenger side but I could not figure out where. I took it to 2 shops they both told me the rear driver wheel cylinder was leaking (which I already knew about). My plan was to redo all of the steel lines and the rear brakes.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

[QUOTE=rcrahn;7147705]Sorry to hear this happened young man.

Not to give you a hard time or be like a lawyer but you wrote "I pulled over only to have tons of smoke starts billowing out from under the hood. I open the hood only to find the engine compartment is on fire". Then you later write "Fire fighters decide to piss me off by opening the hood with a pry bar even though the latch is right there" So what really happened?

After I opened the hood and saw the fire I closed it to try too help suppress it.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I was with you up to that point. So if you don't like me, you let my house or car burn a little longer? I seriously hope that was just angry internet fingers.

Any chance this truck had one of those clear fuel filters?

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I had a truck fire once. Luckily it was in the winter and there was plenty of snow around to put it out with. Put an extinguisher in your truck and quit whining about someone helping you out and saving what you have left.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Sorry I guess it kinda was cause 1) with the adrenalin flowin you really get into it and 2) I have never had anyone really be a dick. Most people just appreciate us doing what we can, I have always done all I could to save people's stuff as if it were mine.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I had a similar fire. Ordered the AAW harness from MCBMatt here in the vendors forum for much cheaper than any where else. Started installing it today.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

AAAAHHH yes, "BEER" would be better. Maybe his dad can buy it and take it there for/with him.:lol:

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Did you take any pictures? Can you please post them?

Seems strange to me that brake fluid way down on the crossmember would flame up and burn just the fuel line going to the carb. I'm going to speculate that you are looking at 2 issues here. A brake fluid leak leaving fluid down low on the crossmember (not causing the fire) and a leaking fuel line or carb fitting (the culprit) higher up. Again, pictures would really help.

Clarification: Replacement PTFE lined fuel hoses should be conductive. My bad.

Below is a great engineering study on flammability of underhood fluids...

http://garrett-engineers.com/2005/10...o-fluids-burn/

Let us know when you visit the fire station to apologize....

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I have seen this happen several times on Jeeps. Kaiser/ AMC did not spend too much money on their wiring harnesses (my 67 Jeepster does not have a fuse panel just four randomly placed inline fuses) they get electrical fires all the time which can be multiplied by any grease on the engine. Automatic transmission fluid seems to be especially flammable. I wonder if something similar happened to your truck?

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I have so much insurance on my truck, I would punch anybody that tried to put the fire out.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Damn that sucks man, I'm a senior in hs (three weekend left, thank the Lord) and understand the frustration. Guys who are giving him flak about the attitude, how would you feel if you dump a bunch of money into a truck (money at my age is quite appreciated) only to see a firefighter use a pry bar instead of at least attempting to find a handle/latch? I'd be pissed as hell if a firefighter (I appreciate what you guys do I honestly, really do.) told me he didn't give a f*** if he used an axe on my truck. I see where his anger and frustration comes from. Welcome to the board from Stl Mo btw bro lol

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

A firefighter's mission is to protect life and property, in that order. There's nothing in that truck worth a firefighter's life, and if opening it with a pry bar or an axe or even a rescue saw is the fastest and safest way to get to the fire, so be it.

I agree with other who say the OP owes the firefighters an apology and a thank-you.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Are the hoods really able to be opened with a prybar? If you slip it between the grille, which is soft aluminum and the hood on these trucks, I'm guessing all you will accomplish is bending the grille down. That is probably why guy #2 ran up with an axe? I have extinguishers in all vehicles, it is cheap insurance. I amazed at how many people don't carry one.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Hey if anybody thinks they can do it better become a firefighter then. Had one die a week ago up here trying to save someone's life... I understand you put a lot of time in your truck but what if you built a house and they needed to get in with a axe to save a loved ones life, would you flip then. They go into protecting people's life mode when there's a fire not lets do as little damage as possible to the object. Takes a lot to be a firefighter.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I completely understand that, I'm simply saying I understand him flipping sh*t when his (presumably) first truck and pride and joy gets a pry bar to the hood, let alone an ax. And if you're bringing in life or death he's still just as close to the fire using a pry bar as he is opening the latch. Anyway my point is can we stop busting his balls and welcome him to the forum instead of makin ourselves look like a**holes callin him out and harassin him for caring about his truck? Rant over. Hope you get everything straightened out and fixed soon.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Future reference....for anyone....firefighters, correct me if I am wrong:

If you are faced with a smolder coming from under the hood, AND you lack the means to extinguish it, don't even open the hood. (Unless you KNOW/smell that it's electrical and not petroleum...to disconnect the battery) It's like a damper. You open it, and now you have maximum airflow to the fire. I might even suggest if you do have an extinguisher, keeping the hood closed and using it from underneath.

As for the OP's reaction, well... It's got to be an emotional experience to see your truck burning, throw in the youth factor, and I can see how it all happens. Not saying it's perfectly OK, just that I can understand how it went down the way it did. That said, the doughnuts and beer (with help from Dad, of course) would go along way to smoothing things over, I imagine.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

I think the brake fluid sprayed out on the header when I hit the brakes at a red light shortly before the truck died. I dint come to stop I just started slowing down and then the light turned green. A neighbor of mine said he was behind me and he said he saw flamed under the truck a good mile before it died out. How do you post pics? it keeps asking for a picture URL. I don't have my pictures online they are on my hard drive.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

look in the the FAQ section....under postings

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

yes in hind sight I probably shouldn't have opened the hood. But I closed it after I saw the fire and called 911. and BTW my dad is taking me over to the fire department to apologize today and thank them.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

:) Good job buddy. Oh yeah if there were flames under the hood its definitely getting the prybar and foam.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Sorry for your loss, hope your insurance can make it right for you. Don't pay the hackers any mind, first responders are trained to act in a certain way from years of dealing with situations, sucks but property or things are just things and procedure is procedure. Make a better truck and move on the best you can. You were the only person here who was there, you handled the situation the best you could, sometimes you have to do what it takes to get your point across. Professionals are trained to deal with the public if they can't deal with negativity from time to time there probably not suited for the job.
Welcome to the forums.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

Good for you! That is the right thing to do. Sorry for your loss and hopefully it is repairable. Good thing is no one was hurt!

Welcome to the forum from a former Channahon resident.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1430059656
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1430059656
This is my truck before the fire. I had gotten the hood to line up better since that picture was taken.

Re: Truck Fire!!!
 

idk why the hell it posted some pics 2x but yea