I got some fittings for the fuel system on my project AV8, a 1930 model A pickup with a 1950 8BA flathead. Its in the shop at my in-laws farm, about 40 miles out of town. I install the fittings, put some fuel in the fuel tank, and turn the key on and listen for the electric fuel pump to shut off. I check for leaks and it all looks good so, I think, Ill crank it over and see if it fires. The engine turns over twice, coughs, then backfires, and the engine area bursts into flame. ****. I pull off my jacket and start beating the flames while looking for a fire extinguisher. I see one, grab it and pull the handle. It emits the tiniest little asthmatic puff, then nothing. ****. So, I fall back to hitting the flames with my jacket. I hit the fire a few times, it goes out, then comes back. I keep doing this and finally notice that there is a rag under the car that has caught flame, and keeps feeding the fire. I drag it out and stomp the flames out. Then it was all me, and soon I had the fire out. By now I was winded. I dont know how long all this took, but I was sweating and shaky, and I looked around and noticed 3 things: 1) The damage was amazingly small- a fuel line was charred, and 3 wires were burned. You had to really look closely to see that anything had happened. 2) There was another fire extinguisher across the shop- and it was just as ******* dead as the first one. 3)My wallet was laying on the floor next to the drivers front wheel, and when I picked it up, I realized my blackberry was in pieces on the floor as well. I found the SIMM chip with all my info on it after sweeping the floor and sifting the sweepings. I was REALLY LUCKY- I will replace the fuel line, repair the wires, and I picked up a new Iphone out of the deal. And you can be damsure that I will show up at the farm next time with new fire extinguishers. KNOW WHERE YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ARE AND CHECK THEM.
All fire extinguishers should be checked by YOU by looking at the gauge on the piece or by a professional at least once every year or two. There is nothing more tragic than losing a car or a house or a child or a pet because you thought extinguishers were immortal.
Every six months,take each extinguisher and tap the bottom with a rubber mallet. That keeps the contents loose. if you don't it becomes a hard lump on the bottom,something you realize as the place blazes around you and the damn thing won't work. . A service guy just weighs them and marks them as being tested,so don't rely on them to make sure your extinguisher is working. What is really important is that you have the Correct extinguisher on hand!
The Jalopy Journal
