OK guys please cut me some slack on this next question. First of all I did not build this car and because of that I rarely enter car shows. I am not a trophy ***** and I find car shows more enjoyable as a spectator so I do not participate. I bought this car in really bad shape and thanks to great people like Rocco and Pierro at Austin Speed shop I have an awesome car and have learned to to do most of the repairs by myself. This is my dilemma. My wife and I were going to Little River for the "Run what you brung" when I had a backfire that set my air filter on fire. Well there just happened to be one of Leanders finest that pulled up as my carb was burning and while I was talking with him some Landscapers came up and sprayed Fire retardant everywhere. The officer would not let me leave to tell them to stop. As a result my carb is encrusted. (paint on body is not damaged) Is there a way to remove this **** out of my carb, and since the engine wasn't running do I need to worry about anything else? Please don't tell me about how 350's ****, Ford vs. chevy or things like that. It's all about cars that we love and I really love mine (and yours) Thanks. Misfit
It is just a baking soda, but baking soda is put it in to tooth paste and use to soda blast. Baking soda is very abrasive. I think it would be worth pulling the intake maifold off just to see if there is any evidence of the stuff near your valve ports.
If the engine was not running you will need to take the carb off and clean it with carb cleaner. Look into the intake and see if any got through the closed throttle plates ( I doubt it) tape ove the intake opening and wash off the engine with a strong liquid detergent and water. Replace the K&N and reinstall the carb,(with a new gasket).....and away you go..... Oh, keep the ignition wires away from the air cleaner housing.....
I wouldnt even pull the carb off. Tape the top of the carb off, pressure wash real good and run it. May want to replace rubber and any plug wires in the area....
You might want to diagnose the cause of the backfire too, and lose that gl*** fuel filter. They are the cause of more serious engine fires!
The only thing I found to work even half way well on fire ext. residue is ......WD40 ! And do it quickly...that stuff will etch aluminum real fast ! Dave
Then keep a wool blanket with ya, put over the carb and it will put out the fire without that nasty stuff!!
Thanks for everyones help. I took my carb apart and used the baking soda. Here are the before and after pics
If the engine wasn't running you should be fine but I would stuff a shop vac down the holes in the intake anyway. Block 3 holes and stuff the nozzel down one hole then repeat. it won't cost you any more then your time. You carb looks like it cleaned up real well. You may end up with a leak or other problem if it got hot enough to warp something. so i would watch it real close when i fired it off. A little piece of advice if you can find one a HALON fire estinguiser is the thing to have. They are illegal commercialy but I think if you look arounfd you can still find one. Great to put out an engine fire and little or no cleanup afterward.
Sorry for bothering anyone, but one more question on my carb. Actually not the carb but the coil. the coil sustained some damage from the heat but after looking at it I was wondering if I could just grind it down. The inside (where the wire connects ) is not damaged and I was thinking I could just grind it even so it would make the proper connection. Is this ok or is the integrity of the coil ruined? Also here is the manifold cleaned up (3 Hour of Mothers metal polish) I appreciate all of everyone's help. Here are the Pics:
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