[Rugratman]

When I came back from test driving my goat on Saturday, I saw some smoke coming from the rear wheel, I figured, new rear, new brakes, maybe the drum got hot. Next thing I know the garage fills up with smoke, and I look under the car and the drivers side frame rail is on fire. The flames reached about as high as the belt line moulding, and I grabbed and used two extinigishers and it still didn't put out the fire, so I grabbed the garden hose and sprayed, this put out the fire. It seems that the new front to rear brake line I put in was touching the top of the electric fuel pump, It must have shorted somehow and caught fire. All the wiring, and new brake line was trashed. I still had the old fuel lines in the frame, I had run a AN line from the tank to the pump, which was mounted on the frame, then the line to the carb. The new brake line (stainless) was white hot, the powder from the extinguishers did nothing. I have to get a new fuel pump and all new wiring. A little smoke damage to the paint, but nothing too serious. I need new lines and new hoses etc. This fire got out of control very quickly. Luckily I had the hose and the extinguishers close at hand. I can't really figure out how it shorted though. The wiring to and from the pump were still spliced together and no bare metal. The only thing was the brake line was resting on the top of the fuel pump. No bare wires anywhere. I practically needed a tranquilizer after all this was over. I enclosed some pic's. I plan on running the fuel pump stuff up the other frame rail from the brake lines etc. Move the battery back to the engine instead of the trunk, eliminating the wire from the trunk to the remote solinoid then to the starter. Happy to be here with my car still, and my house. If this had happened on the road, I would be GTOless.

[Jagtec1]

Looks to me that a power wire off the solenoid chafed the fuel line??

[Rugratman]

Maybe, could be, When I was pulling the new line thru, maybe I pushed the old line against the solinoid.
I'm gonna cut out those old lines, I left them in, as at the time I was using them as the anchor to hold the wires, AN line's etc... with wire straps...

[screamingchief]

I would tend to say that was NOT a good palce to mount the solenoid...

There is just too much flex between the body and the frame for there to have been enough room the way that all is mounted.

It was going to short on something sooner or later,and guess what it did.

Things like pulling up a steep grade on a corner or such would allow the battery terminal to contact any number of ground paths and short.

And you always need to be very concerned with chafing issues too.

NEVER let wires lie across/against anything else unprotected!

The insulation alone is not enough,it needs something abrasion resistant.

Well live and learn,it could have been worse,could have happened in the middle of nowhere.

Then all you could have done would have been watch it burn itself to the ground.

Folks PLEASE be careful with your electrical systems!

Next to the fuel system it can be the quickest way to loose a car...

[george kujanski]

My first guess is that it was electrical in nature.

George

[Larry Navarro]

....and always keep a fire extinguisher in the car!!!

[Armadillo]

RRM, Sorry to hear about the fire. Hope you get it back together soon I know you are going to miss driving her.

Tom

[Brad B. Hillebrand]

That sucks!!!! Hope you get it back together so you can enjoy the summer still

Brad

[goatseeker]

Well that sux, but by now you've realized it could have been worse.
I keep 2 fire extinguisher in my car to ward off those evil spirits.

[JEFF KING]

Worst fear...I,m glad you and the Goat and your house are ok!