Top Causes of Corvette Fires - NCRS Discussion Boards

Top Causes of Corvette Fires

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  • Mark E.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • April 1, 1993
    • 4498

    Top Causes of Corvette Fires

    The "Smokin' Deal 57" thread surfaced a basic fear: a Corvette fire. We all know how poorly our plastic cars hold up to flame.

    I found this webpage that offers one mechanic's perspective about car fires in general:Car Fires: Causes, Prevention and What to Do

    This looks like good advice, but tapping into the considerable experience on this Forum, what have you seen to be the top causes of Corvette fires? Are there risks unique to Corvette we should know about?

    I'm not a professional automotive tech nor an expert, but here are causes of Corvette fires (or close calls) I've seen over the years:

    - Fuel leaks caused by poor maintenance or modifications:
    • Unsafe fuel line mods, especially the pressurized segment downstream from the pump. That’s why I cringe when I see a carbureted engine with the factory steel fuel line cut/spliced to add an aftermarket in-line filter. There's a reason the factory avoids rubber fuel line downstream of the pump- they seem to rupture, leak or come loose too easily.
    • Leaking fuel line connections, especially at the carb inlet. I've seen incorrect, missing, or re-used gaskets; threads damaged from being over tightened; flares poorly seated because sealer or tape is used. Plus they’re easy to cross-thread.
    • Ruptured or leaking factory rubber fuel lines. The rubber connector lines near the fuel tank and pump are often unnoticed and neglected.
    • Needle, seat, float failure from age, using the wrong part, improper installation/adjustment.


    - Wheel bearing failure, due to lack of maintenance, wear, or improper adjustment/set-up.

    - Over-heated catalytic converter, caused by internal restriction or engine misfire.

    - Gassing battery caused by malfunctioning charging system or defective battery, and exacerbated in C3s when the battery compartment isn’t properly vented.

    - Hazardous garage. Two examples that come in mind involved improperly stored gasoline and sub-standard electrical wiring. Garage fires spread quickly because a lot of our man cave stuff is also good kindling for our Corvette.

    But other than maybe trailing arm bearings and enclosed C3 batteries, none of the above are really unique to Corvette.

    What have you seen?
    Mark Edmondson
    Dallas, Texas
    Texas Chapter

    1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
    1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top
  • Michael J.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • January 27, 2009
    • 7073

    #2
    Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

    There was this thread we discussed a few years ago:
    https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...pe-AZ-10-01-12
    Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New Mexico

    Comment

    • Mark E.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • April 1, 1993
      • 4498

      #3
      Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

      Michael,

      Yes, I bet collisions are a major cause of fires. The crash in your link looks particularly tragic.

      Arson may be another significant cause.

      Other than my garage example, I guess I'm thinking about fires caused by mechanical failure that are mostly preventable.
      Mark Edmondson
      Dallas, Texas
      Texas Chapter

      1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
      1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

      Comment

      • Edward B.
        Expired
        • March 29, 2013
        • 691

        #4
        Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

        Owner stupidity (yes, I'm talking about me!) Read THIS for more info.

        Ed

        Comment

        • Jim S.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • March 1, 1986
          • 1392

          #5
          Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

          I think I remember a few threads about installing a Fuse in the cigarette lighter hot wire ?

          Jim

          Comment

          • Mark E.
            Extremely Frequent Poster
            • April 1, 1993
            • 4498

            #6
            Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

            Ed,

            Wow. Those are sobering photos. I'm just glad your wife wasn't injured.

            I'm not clear how a missing flame arrestor could cause this. A more general question: What does the flame arrestor do, or prevent, exactly? I've seen them for years, but never gave them much thought.

            From your link: "The gas traveled through the tube, into the crankcase, lit and burned through the smog hose. From there the hood lit and that was all she wrote!"

            By "smog hose" do you mean the hose going from the RH valve cover to the air cleaner tube that normally has the flame arrestor attached?
            So that hose somehow became gasoline soaked, burned, and started the overall fire? And if the arrestor was installed, it would somehow prevent the hose from burning?

            Is it possible the carb's float system malfunctioned, flooding the top of the engine with gasoline? I've seen that scenario a few times, with results similar to yours. That just seems more likely... but then again, I wasn't there.

            Also, from the photos, the car's PCV system looks modified with some sort of breather cap on the LH valve cover...
            Mark Edmondson
            Dallas, Texas
            Texas Chapter

            1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
            1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

            Comment

            • Leif A.
              Extremely Frequent Poster
              • August 31, 1997
              • 3607

              #7
              Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

              How about the all too common aged wiring harness. I think antique, frayed, spliced wiring may be the culprit of more fires than any of the others combined.
              Leif
              '67 Coupe L79, M21, C60, N14, N40, J50, A31, U69, A01, QB1
              Top Flight 2017 Lone Star Regional

              Comment

              • Brad K.
                Expired
                • August 31, 1990
                • 414

                #8
                Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                Many years ago when my C1 was the only car my wife and I drove, I changed out the battery on the weekend and drove the car to work on Monday. Coming home... as I rounded the last corner to my house, the car suddenly started filling up with smoke. I slammed on the brakes, pulled the hood latch, jumped out of the car, pulled open the hood and the white smoke just rolled out. The first thing I saw was insulation dripping off of the large gauge, red wire along the top of the right hand inner fender It was wintertime in Missouri so I had gloves on so I instinctively jerked the wire and it was so hot, it broke into two pieces....stopping the inferno. Not 15 seconds had elapsed...

                After examining the situation....it was obvious that I had screwed up putting the battery in and had not secured the red wire into the two U-shaped flat retainers along the top of the fender well. The wire dangles dangerously close anyway..... very near the rear bolt holding the exhaust manifold. As I was sliding around the last corner home, the hot wire swung over and contacted the bolt shorting the system. Which by the way..... totally destroyed my main wiring harness.

                This is why, to this day, I never drive the car without a fire extinguisher sitting securely between the two seats!

                Comment

                • Edward B.
                  Expired
                  • March 29, 2013
                  • 691

                  #9
                  Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                  What does the flame arrestor do, or prevent, exactly?
                  Mark, Duke can probably explain it a lot better than I, but basically the flame arrestor is there to keep backfires from spreading, and yes, I said smog hose but I meant breather hose. The air cleaner wasn't from a 68. It was a 72 or 73 if I remember correctly, so yes, the system had been modified a bit. But if I would have cleaned the arrestor and reinstalled it again that same day, I'd probably still have the car!!

                  Ed

                  Comment

                  • Greg H.
                    Expired
                    • June 30, 1985
                    • 105

                    #10
                    Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                    The best fire prevention is to replace your rubber fuel lines on a regular schedule.
                    Please excuse me for posting Ford photos; they illustrate what can happen with a leaking rubber fuel hose.

                    IMG_0058.jpgIMG_0050.jpgIMG_0053.jpgIMG_0054.jpgIMG_0055.jpgIMG_0056.jpg

                    Comment

                    • Joe R.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • July 31, 1976
                      • 4547

                      #11
                      Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                      AND THE #1 CAUSE OF CORVETTE FIRES!!!

                      An "X" Wife and "X" Girlfriend getting together for "Lunch"!!!!!!!!!!!

                      Comment

                      • Stuart F.
                        Expired
                        • August 31, 1996
                        • 4676

                        #12
                        Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                        The 63's do not have flame arresters and, with mine back in the mid-60's, I had a crankcase explosion that blew the valve covers off. Chevy came up with a fix, but I never installed it because it added screws inside the air cleaner housing. Even with loctite I don't trust them. I had a metal pin from a carburetor drop into the intake and lodge in a piston top breaking every ring land and scratching the cylinder wall.

                        Talk about not liking fuel hoses downstream of the fuel pump; what about 64 through 67's with Holley carbs? They all have fuel hoses from the factory from the filter to the carb. I use one myself on my 63 L-76 because I raised my carb about 3/8" with an insulator and that was the only way I could make the connection. It is short and of good quality fuel hose. Then too, back in the day; many of us had multiple carb setups with fuel blocks and hoses.

                        Stu Fox

                        Comment

                        • Gene M.
                          Extremely Frequent Poster
                          • April 1, 1985
                          • 4232

                          #13
                          Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                          One should not use rubber hose on the pressure side of the fuel pump. I learned this at an early age and always kept it in the back of my mind. Should be steel lines with secured fittings.

                          Old style fuel hoses are not designed to handle alcohol laced fuels.

                          Comment

                          • Stuart F.
                            Expired
                            • August 31, 1996
                            • 4676

                            #14
                            Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                            Then, what do the owners of Holley equipped C-2's use for replacement fuel hoses? I'm inclined to believe the fuel hose material available today is specked to handle ethanol laced fuels. Same can be said for the flex lines used at the tank and fuel pump.

                            Stu Fox

                            Comment

                            • Duke W.
                              Beyond Control Poster
                              • January 1, 1993
                              • 15610

                              #15
                              Re: Top Causes of Corvette Fires

                              Originally posted by Gene Manno (8571)
                              Old style fuel hoses are not designed to handle alcohol laced fuels.
                              Elastomeric materials used to manufacture fuel hoses have been upgraded many times over the years, and SAE spec fuel hose has been formulated to handle ethanol since the late seventies when "gasohol" first became available in parts of the country.

                              Fuel hose you buy today is considerably more durable than OE. The most critical hose is the one from the frame fuel feed pipe to the fuel pump inlet nipple. This hose will deteriorate faster than others because it runs hotter, and because of the high location of the fuel tank, if this hose ruptures, the entire fuel tank contents will flow out the hole.

                              Duke

                              Comment

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