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Old 02-03-2008, 10:07 PM   #1
Luvlegs
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kept the fire department out of my grill...

Had 2 weeks of cruising around for necessities - getting ready for daily driving - The wife totally against it. She started seeing the light recently. I have (HAD) all the mechanical straight and was just starting the cosmetics. All was great in the world. Went to the store last night and picked up some dinner. All going well until it bucked at a light about 2 miles from home. Immediately straightened out but I smelled smoke. Then I SAW smoke filling the cab. I pulled off quickly, got out, popped the hood and saw nothing. It was getting dark - then I realized it was IN the cab - DUH! I got under the dash and with only my hands, started putting out burning tape and plastic wire... grrrr.... There were sparks flying all over and I had a real sinking feeling in my stomach (maybe a little panic too - in case I couldn't get it out) - I had just put an extinguisher next to the truck in my building so I could mount it up - it was still at the shop... Lesson learned! Anywho, the wife brought my tools to me and then LEFT! She was not impressed. I worked on exposing everything for an hour or so and my father in law just happened to see the truck, in the dark, with no one around (I was under the dash still) - he stopped and gave me a little moral support and a lot of "that's why you won't catch me driving an old one"... ugh.. that'll take a while to put to an end... long story short, I had it towed home (head hung real low) - this is what it looks like this morning - nice mess huh?! Get your extinguishers in your trucks -do it today. I could have lost it all last night! Oh yeah, after the fire was out, I got under the hood again and this is where the adrenaline comes in... I was able to un-bolt the neg. cable on the side battery with my bare hands (and it was on tight). Lesson 2, carry tools... everywhere (and I always do too... except last night)....
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Old 02-03-2008, 10:46 PM   #2
68,69 K20
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

Wow that really sucks, I guess if there is an upside, it didn't burn to the the ground, and you can fix/replace any of the wiring. Was there any damage to anything other than the wiring? Good luck fixing it and good luck with the wife as well!!!
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Old 02-03-2008, 10:53 PM   #3
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

Have you figured out what let go? I had a 72 cheyenne as my first truck that decided one night while crusing my hometown as I crossed aspeed bump to melt down. I started just after the fusible link in the headlight harness and almost made it to firewall before I could get enough wire RIPPED out. Not a happy time. Now that I am older, against some other's belief on here and else where, I replace ALL the wiring in my trucks after all it is over 30 years old and people owned them before us and did all types of questionable wiring. I for one believe my wok is work more than the 5/6 hundred dollars for all new wiring. You can of course get out cheaper with a unversal you make kit, but I like the plug and play. New wires of any type are a wise investment IMO. Check with Modern Chevrolet/Classic Muscle in Winston-Salem they have a entire ground floor dedicated to old muscle car and truck parts and they are close to you/us as well as all of the board venders here. I mention Classic because they will have it to you next day no wait due to relative location, so you are back on the road quickly that way you can kill the nay- sayers so they can't harp too long
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Old 02-03-2008, 11:10 PM   #4
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

Ya know, the electrical was one of the first things I went through - I checked everything for cracks, skins, etc. I even taped/seperated all the wires into and out of the ignition - cleaned all my grounds, had everything working properly.. I even did the relay mod for the headlights. All that was done about 8 months ago or better. I believe from what I found last night, it started in either the healight switch/relay area or more likely, the ignition switch itself...that's where the complete burning off of the insulation is the worst. The harness was actually in super nice/uncut condition. I am really suprised the fusible links didn't go first.
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"A cat will almost always blink when hit between the eyes with a ball peen hammer"
(you don't always have to state the obvious)

Wear your PPE! You can eat with false teeth but you can't see with a false eye.

1959 Studebaker Silverhawk 350/400
1972 C10 L6 3OTT
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Old 02-03-2008, 11:21 PM   #5
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

Before I tore my project truck down, I was driving to a job site and as I turned onto the road where the job was (heading into the bright sun) I thought my sunglasses were fogging up. Then I got that bad smell so I pulled over real fast, got out and looked under the dash to find 2 wires melting. I unhooked them and went to work. When I got home I started tracing wires. You know what a plate of spaghetti looks like? That's what the underdash wiring looked like. I'm glad to hear you got it under control before you lost it completely.
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Old 02-03-2008, 11:34 PM   #6
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

About 4' of the harness is like "stuck together" spaghetti (and they don't want to come apart either)
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Old 02-04-2008, 12:23 AM   #7
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

1st thing I did when I bought my blazer was rewire it. I have had many wireing fires from p.o. of trucks I have bought.
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Old 02-04-2008, 12:47 AM   #8
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

Terrible thing to happen. The good news is that it didn't burn your truck down.

I always carry tools, but I think I will put a quick disconnect for the batter on my trucks...
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Old 02-04-2008, 05:13 AM   #9
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

the disconnect is another "next on the list"
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"A cat will almost always blink when hit between the eyes with a ball peen hammer"
(you don't always have to state the obvious)

Wear your PPE! You can eat with false teeth but you can't see with a false eye.

1959 Studebaker Silverhawk 350/400
1972 C10 L6 3OTT
2005 F350 - Built - whew!
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Old 02-04-2008, 06:10 AM   #10
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

If the source of the smoke is electrical, a fire extinguisher MAY not be the answer. If it is electrical, you have to disconnect the battery from the truck, one way or another.

I too had an electrical "issue" one morning right after I fired it up. Didn't know until it was all over, but the hot wire from the battery to the back of the alternator had gotten moved so it was against the left header. After a couple weeks, the insulation was gone from the wire and I gotta tell you, 12V running through a 10-ga wire that is shorted to ground is H-O-T!!! I managed to pull it in two, and the scars on the inside of my fingers went away after a couple months.

So, fixin' to order a new dash harness for my truck, as part of the redo it's getting. Go to www.wiringharness.com for M&H Electrical Fabricators. They have stock spec wiring and upgraded stuff, too. Original color code and wiring will connect just like the original stuff did when the truck was on the assembly line.
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Old 02-04-2008, 06:56 AM   #11
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Re: kept the fire department out of my grill...

I feel bad for you guys who have support from a spouse. Get rid of the wife.
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