Went to junk yard today for wheels and saw this (Page 1/2)
Skybax MAY 14, 05:07 PM
Went to junk yard this morning to buy a set of GT wheels they had listed in inventory. (called them yesterday and asked if they had all 4 and they said yes still on the car, but when I got there they only had 2 wheels, typical time-wasters but that is another story) Anyways, so while I was there looking around I snapped a few photos while I was there, looks like the fire started in the lower front of the engine...





[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 05-14-2021).]

steve308 MAY 14, 06:49 PM
Area of fire would indicate a fuel line failure.........
Skybax MAY 14, 07:00 PM
I was thinking that or the old style oil pressure sending unit started leaking badly.
theogre MAY 14, 07:52 PM
Maybe either... or just a side effect...

Because Can be electrical too.
Plus Bat Cable often have problems from exhaust, pulley(s) rubbing, and more and dump 300+ amps from the battery.

Then notice no battery... Maybe battery cables are there, hard to tell.
Maybe moved to front like many here.
If True, Iffy rewiring for that can cause a fire.

Example: Many put big wire from front to starter and whatever crap wire from starter to + box under C500.
Often a wire not rated for bad environment or hot places and never bother w/ fusible link or anything else when that "jumper" shorts out.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 05-14-2021).]

Dennis LaGrua MAY 14, 09:20 PM
I would say a fuel leak is entirely possible. The hoses that bridge the connection between the hard lines from the filter/tank and to the fuel block are made of a 30+ yr old rubber compound. Also the gasket under the fuel block will completely deteriorate over time. How about the rubber gas tank fill hose? Those are three likely places for a leak. Also oil from a leaking rocker cover gasket could spill down on the extremely hot CAT and cause a fire as well as well as a battery cable short as stated above.
The solution is to always carry at least two fire extinguishers. A friend of mine had a oil feed line to his turbo charger break and it didn't take long for the fire to flare up. Fortunately he was able to quickly grab his fire extinguisher and he put it out with minimal damage.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Skybax MAY 14, 10:21 PM
Amazing how all the fire causing possibilities mentioned apply to most cars on the road, and with any mid-engine car it seems magnified.
Australian MAY 15, 03:24 AM
I bet it was the battery.
skywurz MAY 15, 12:46 PM

quote
Originally posted by Australian:

I bet it was the battery.



Having had the side of a bat eaten by a pulley due to failed strap i was in this camp.
Then i saw the plastic guard was still intact. I also see the battery leads so i doubt it was relocated as some suggested. I also doubt it was oil sending unit or crack in the block dumping oil on the cat.
I would be willing to say fuel line vs positive battery cable. Or just a leak or crack in the fuel line. Id have to see the whole engine bay to wildly speculate further.


Skybax MAY 15, 08:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by skywurz:

Having had the side of a batt eaten by a pulley due to failed strap i was in this camp.




Ouch, that sounds nasty, can you elaborate on that? What strap and fail how?

I had a battery explode in my face when I was 17 years old while installing top terminals on my 71 Mach1, the top of the battery ricocheted off the underside of the hood, and never found it. I was at my friends grandfathers furniture upholstery shop when it happened, in a panic I ran into their bathroom to flush my eyes/face with water, and the only thing sitting on the sink was a small white bottle with blue letters that said... Battery Acid Neutralizer for Eyes. Not kidding, and I have other stories a lot crazier than that.

After that I wear safety glasses ANYTIME I'm connecting/disconnecting a battery. (even when done correctly always a risk)

[This message has been edited by Skybax (edited 05-15-2021).]

skywurz MAY 15, 10:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by Skybax:


Ouch, that sounds nasty, can you elaborate on that? What strap and fail how?




The hold down strap thing on our batteries. The nut had suddenly disintegrated due to rust causing the battery to become loose. I didn't have the plastic tray so as i turned corners the battery suddenly was making contact with the pulleys. Brand new battery and it took a trip around the block to almost eat through the plastic housing on it. Lucky i had not put my vent on as i was just going around the block for a test. I thought for a moment i had not tightened it down enough but it had stripped out.