Well, I wasn't bothered by the holiday shoppers. I went over to Desert Muscle Cars and bought a new door weatherstrip kit for my 66. Figured I'd spend some quality time in the garage today and do some routine maintainance on the car. Decided to change out the fuel filter, it looked a little funky (can't be too careful, huh?) and then wanted to put it on the lift and change oil and lube it. Thursday, had just installed the new fan schroud my buddy made for the car. I hadn't put the air filter back on, I was only going over to the lift. It fired right up. I got out to close the hood, and saw FIRE!!!!!! My shop rag didn't put it out. I pushed it out of the garage (so that wouldn't burn), hit the intercome button and yelled FIRE at my wife, who called 911. I grabbed the fire extinguisher and emptied it on the engine......to no avail. I tried to smother it with a blanket, to no avail. In what seemed like hours, but was really only a couple of minutes, the fire truck got to the house. They ran at the car with a hose and, with a 2 or 3 inch hose, doused the fire under th hood. The fire had spread, by way of the Vintage Air unit, into the interior.
They turned the hose on the interior. Water was standing on the floor to a level that it was pouring out the doors. My poor car. The hood is burnt and warped. The right fender has paint burnt. The firewall has no paint left. The wiring is gone. The HEI has melted on to the intake. I'm sure the engine is full of water (and I just put the new "fuelie" heads from Summit on last month). The vacuum booster has no hose or grommet anymore. The battery melted. Part of the new electric fan is melted. The windshield wiper and washer is burnt and melted. The windshield is melted..........and then I opened the door on the passenger side. Rubber and plastic burning and melting sure leaves a mess. The entire interior is covered in soot. I can't read the speedometer on kneeknocker tach. From the center of the dash over to the right.........the center A/C vent melted away to nothing, the radio face melted, the heater control melted, the in dash Vintage Air unit is burnt and melted into the floor mat, which is melted to the carpet, the kick panel speaker is melted, the right A/C vent is missing in action, my console is a mess (but will probably be ok with some work). The dash looked warped on the passenger side, but that might just be because of the melted dash pad. I'm sure I've left out details.......all I could do yesterday was keep going back over to it and looking.
I've never been thru such a situation. Yes, it's insured.......and I want it fixed. My thought would be to pull the engine, pull the interior out, remove the dash. Paint and replace the dash. Rewire the under dash and under hood area, after the engine compartment is repainted, and replace the interior. Replace the engine, and everything, like the stereo and Vintage Air system.
Does that plan make sense? Anyone been thru this before? I'm looking for suggestions, thanks!

don't touch it till after the insurance co. looks at it..
it sounds totaled , maybe not..
I'd wait and see,, if totalled, can you buy it back?
and will it still have a "clean title?"

Sorry to hear about that lousey day.At least you had insurance!

Sorry for your loss Bill, but although I never experienced your problem personally, I can say during my Police career I saw many vehicles engulfed in flames, and burned to the ground, tires included, leaving only a smothering, burnt and rusted hulk.

I'm assuming your carb caused the fire, but I'm unsure about that. Quick thinking when you pushed it out of your garage to avoid your entire dwelling from going up. The important thing is that no one was injured or worse.

I can't say I know how you feel, but I will say I understand how you feel about your pride and joy. I would be doing the same thing you are by going in and out looking at the damage.

Hopefully, your insurance will cover the loss and by winters end, you car will be roadworthy again.

Cheer up, it could have been a whole lot worse. I know, I know.....easier said then done.


Respectfully,
John R.

Guys, I've got it covered for a lot more than I HOPE it will take to fix. It's still sitting about 25 feet in front of the garage.......and will stay there until the insurance company sees it........empty fire extinguisher and all. Yes, it sure could have been worse, no garage fire, no one hurt (except emotionally). My wife and I searched from the time we were dating until 1997, when we finally found THIS 66. Did I mention Friday was our 24th wedding anniversary? That's not why it's called Black Friday, by the way.

Sorry Bill, at least you got the car out of the garage. Good to hear it's insured. Get all your receipts and past pics together and do some homework to try and get a value for the car. If you had an appraial before this, that would be great too. Hope everything works out and keep us posted.

What a terrible day. The best option may be to try a buy back from the insurance company unless it will really affect your rates then you may just need to bite the bullet. I could have been worse, if that garage had gone up...............Good Luck.

maybe there is a market for a nomex aircleaner

That really sucks Bill. At least its insured. What Co. do you have it ins. through? I hope everything works out....

I know you don't want to..
but, we want the dirt..
any pic's??

Wow, Bill, what a terrible day. I am sorry to hear about your 66, hope the insurance company steps up and makes it whole again. I am glad no one was hurt, and that the house sustained no damage. Hope for the best, and I am sure it will be repairable.

Tiny

Insurance is with J. C. Taylor.........stated or agreed coverage.......25K. I don't know what made me push it outside. I have no reason why the parking brake was not set.....it always is (thanks, God). I can e-mail pics, but don't know how to post them here......who can I e-mail them to? Who will post them here?
I've been out there all day again. I really think, If you remove the hood, windshield and dash..........it won't look bad. The smell is terrible. I've had the doors open every day since the fire department left. I'm guessing I'll have to replace the entire interior to get rid of the smell.
I can't wait to hear from the insurance co............this was a one owner car when I bought it in 1997.......and rust free.......and straight. We looked for 17 years for this car. I've got to fix it............I hope they agree.

Sorry to hear this happened. Another reason why fire extinguishers are so important, even more then one type for different kinds of meterial. Never keep the hood entirely open when putting a fire out either.

ouch. worry to hear that :( you'll get it fixed.

Sorry to hear about the car. At least nobody was injured. If I hear of any 66 parts. I'll let you know. Jim

Thanks, Jim..........I'll need a hood and a dash. I found a dash, but it's in California. I don't know about reproduction hoods......anyone know about fit with them?

Sorry for your pain, but thanks for the post. After I read it I looked at my fire extinguisher and noticed it was going low on me. Boise Idaho craigslist has a stock non-SS hood and some interior parts for 66 that show up in a search. If you are interested I could go look at them for you. Good luck Patrick

Well, Guys..........my agent says won't be a problem. Says "you'll have a good experience dealing with them". I'm waiting to hear from an adjuster now. Says should be with in 24 hours.

good luck..
took 17 years to find it..
whats another rebuilding it.
we have the techology to build it better/fast/etc................
now look in the mirror with one eyebrow raised

Bill,

So sorry for the loss. I was in the process of getting fire extinguishers for both my cars and one for the shop. All halon (or clean agent or whatever they call it). I met a guy at a car show who was in the business & I am waiting on a call from him when they come in as I was trying to keep the business local. Now I am getting worried about not having these on hand.

What kind did you use? Was it an ABC? Halon?

i'm sure JC Taylor will take care of you.

Good luck!

WOW! Talk about quick.........one hour aftr I called the company, an adjuster called me! We talked for quite a while. He said he would send someone from their company to take pictures to e-mail tohim. says the guy won't be a car guy, but he needs pictures. I told him I could e-mail him pictures and he said fine?! Says they will pay to have it towed to the shop of my choice for estimates. Sounds like we could get this thing rolling pretty soon........
Brian, as far as the extinguishers, all I can say is I needed more and bigger! I was suprised how fast it was empty. I'll have several in the garage from now on. I don't know how big you need to carry in the car now........that was the one I carry in the car when I'm on the road.

The car went to the body shop last night on a flat bed. They are to prepare an estimate.

I feel your pain - don't worry, you'll get it back - find a good shop and talk to the guy, and don't be afraid to call him or visit.

This look about right?
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/hood.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/engcompartment1.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/clarkbar04/dash.jpg

This car was NOT totaled! Glad you were not injured and your house is OK.

Thanks.......that renews my hope! The first words from the guys at the body shop was.......it doesn't look too bad. That's when I asked if they opened the hood or a door. I can't wait to hear what they have to say when they get into it a bit.

They just called and said the firewall is warped, too.

Sorry about your loss. Only thing I would have done different is, the way I got bent over with the housing market here, I would let burn my house down too.

OK OK! I am ordering a Halon SFI system...lesson learned.
Thanks!
Ron

I'm picking up a new bigger extinguisher Friday.........long before the car comes home. The garage is seperate from the house, but the mortgage is paid off.......I don't need any more problems..........

Bill, sent you a pm about some parts.

Well, the insurance company got the estimate today. They approved the repairs and sent a check to the body shop today. It'll get put back together.........I'll be back on the road again sometime soon.........