The RivDogg is down. Had an engine fire tonight...

It's been running great. Just put an MSD box and electronic ignition in it and finally got 'er running right again. Easy starts, smooth take-off and plenty of power.

Anyhow, I had just left Costco with my 7 y.o. daughter and was heading over to drop off a computer I had upgraded. Got to a stop sign on some side street and the Riv dies, and in a bad neighborhood of all places. I get 'er started again, but it's running rough. I drive down the street to try and get somewhere more public, turn a corner, she backfires (apparently through the carb) and smoke starts coming out from the hood.

I get my daughter out of the car and off to the side of the street, turn around and see flames coming out near the wipers. I then jump in front of a bus that is about to drive by, make him open the doors because I know they've got fire extinguishers inside, grab it and head for the Rivi.

ray: I pop the hood, hoping not to become the next trauma victim, and start spraying. Holy $#!t.

My nerves are shot, my brain is mush, but the Rivi is not too bad. :eek2:

I am soooo lucky that bus was there, more lucky that he actually saw me and stopped before he hit me, and that he let me in the door cuz I think I was screaming quite loudly. I NEED YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER!!

Fan belts, shroud, and some wiring is all that seems to be toast so far.

I feel lucky x3. I guess I am a "glass is half full" kind of guy. Whooda Thunk?

 

Man, good job acting fast, and good fate.

The hard part is finding the true root cause of the problem so it doesn't happen again with all the new parts. Been there, done that...


Devon

 

Quick thinking, good you didn't panic and just did what you needed to do. It looks pretty good for an engine fire. I usually carry an extinguisher in my cars. In my riv its under the seat.

 

:idea2: Dude, I am buying a fire extinguisher!

 

I always keep an extinguisher in my cars(well, the ones I care about) ALWAYS

 

Good ,fast thinking Frank!!!!! Your right it could have been a lot worse.

 

Amen to that!

Tomsriv: Definitely will be my next purchase. I found the extinguisher pin on the ground afterwards, a little momento. Maybe a rear view mirror ornament?


DaWildcat: "Good fate" are the perfect words. I'm still thinking back as to how quickly and smoothly it all happened.


Anybody have any leads on a place that rewires harnesses?

 

Glad everyone is safe and the car still looks good. I've had a few minor engine fires while working on my car, but the thing that I hate the most is cleaning up the dust. It takes months to go away completely. I am going to locate a C02 fire extinguisher so all I will need to fix/clean is the fire damage.

 

Any clue on why it went up yet???

I had my Buick go up from being parked on a pile of leaf's.
The plug on the cat had a hole in it and blow torched the leaf's up.
Was crazy how much fire was going on but also how little was harmed.

 

Glad no one was hurt. Good excuse for some underhood upgrades.

 

wow! you're a hero, man! :beers2:
you definitely saved your car from certain doom!
i wonder what the cause was? o No:
i'll be buying an extinguisher now, too. :TU:

 

I may be wrong, but i thought Yardley rebuilds wire harnesses for Riv's ? He's on the board here, but here is his web page.

http://www.1badriv.com/

 

Howrad: Saved from certain doom is right! All last night I was thinking about "If that happened ANYWHERE else" my car would have been history! :shock: Or at least a lot worse off.

Riviman: Thanks for the lead. I had thought I read on here that someone did that, but couldn't remember a name. I just emailed Yardley about it.

buick64203: I'm sure that's what I'll end up doing, as I can't afford much more. I saw THIS KIT on Ron Francis site, but I'm not sure how much of a deal that is yet. I haven't priced out any wires or connections.

I do know that every strand is getting replaced.

Hopefully, I can figure out exactly what caused it as well. Man, I'd hate to go through that again.

 

If you can't afford the fancy chrome extuingishers(150 or so) home depot frequently has them on sale. In 2 packs(I think 60 for 2). About 18 inches high in red. They are brand new and look good. I keep them in my trunks. And in my garage and in my kitchen and in my basement too.


Glad the bus driver helped you out. In new york he probably would've run you over and kept going.

 

If you look around you can find them all over around here for free.
Just hanging on the wall, says right on it incase of fire.

Check local hospitals, child day care, old folks homes, schools.....

 

ou: why didnt i think of that? :laugh:

 

:shock: Gulp!
Glad you were able to get your daughter and yourself out right away!
Then, I am glad you saved the car.

I have carried a fire extinguisher for years. Not just in the 'ol '70 Riv, but my daily driver '96 Riv too!

You never know when you or someone else may need it.

:TU:

 

I once helped someone else out who had an engine fire right near where I live. Must have made his day.

Good job on the save!

 

Scary stuff. I'm gonna get an extinguisher for the Riv and my pickup, too. My wife has one in her car, along with a safety kit of sorts. She's typically better about that kind of stuff than I am.

Glad everyone is all right.

Nick