Bad news for my 85 CV

[mcninetyone]

That looks real bad but there is nothing there that can't be fixed. And it wouldn't cost that much in time or money if you're going back stock. Of course you have to get into it!

Good Luck!!

[fmansfield444]

I'm definitely not going back to stock. I'm hoping to get this thing running and just drive it to the drag strip every weekend. I'd like to beat a few mustangs.

It was funny when it was on fire someone who was walking by was like "man too bad that's burnin, that's a five-oh in there, if I were you I'd put it in a mustang" LOL

[mrltd]

I'm definitely not going back to stock. I'm hoping to get this thing running and just drive it to the drag strip every weekend. I'd like to beat a few mustangs.

It was funny when it was on fire someone who was walking by was like "man too bad that's burnin, that's a five-oh in there, if I were you I'd put it in a mustang" LOL

Amazing. Everyone always is surprised to find out the cars have 302/5.0s in them. My reply is always "it's the only motor they ever put in them!"

[packman]

THat sux; but it looks like you have seen an opportunity to make that car better than it was before the fire. I hope you are able to do what you want to do with it now.


Packman

[fmansfield444]

Cleaned a lot of the melted crap out of the car last night, mostly down to just the engine in there now. Some of the wires from the cabin needed to be snipped back a little too close to the firewall, but I should be able to identify them and splice them to complete their circuits.

Looks like my power steering, brake system, and all front bushings are still good. No brake leaks or anything like that from what I can tell. I removed all the melted plastic except for the dizzy which i want to take out when I have another one to go in. I'll probably get this motor running in the car before I swap it for my later 302 which will likely have explorer additions. That way I'll be all wired up for the new motor and know that this one is still good for my dad's 79 mustang.

All a/c stuff and smog pump is removed, except for the back smog pipe which I'm not sure how to block off? do i get plates? or what?

Here's some pics, still needs some cleaning and coating to prevent rust but its coming along already!

Looks tiny in there huh

[jaywish]

Is it an HO engine in there?

[marquisman]

Good thing you got the fire out that fast. Usally, the vehicle is not worth saving but, looks like you are good to go with the rebuild!

[fmansfield444]

Is it an HO engine in there?

Nope just HO valve covers I had to swap on from my CFI ones to clear the SEFI intake. Just a lopo with shorties.

[79lincolnlover]

I got minimum coverage on all 3 of my cars for only 110 a month.

I pay $85.07 a month for minimum coverage for my fleet. The parts car has been removed from the policy.

[85crownHPP]

I'd say 3g wiring.

Looking at the pics, It looks like your 3G charge cable is completely cooked/melted from the battery to the AC bracket, but not from the bracket to the alternator. How tight was the cable as far as stretch? Maybe it rubbed through on the AC bracket from the engine rocking back and forth. How big was the fuse? Maybe it only shorted through enough to get hot but not blow the fuse... Heck, even 5 amps to ground is enough to start a fire...! ( I think ...)

[86VickyLX]

Looking at the pics, It looks like your 3G charge cable is completely cooked/melted from the battery to the AC bracket, but not from the bracket to the alternator. How tight was the cable as far as stretch? Maybe it rubbed through on the AC bracket from the engine rocking back and forth. How big was the fuse? Maybe it only shorted through enough to get hot but not blow the fuse... Heck, even 5 amps to ground is enough to start a fire...! ( I think ...)

I got lucky then. I had a similar issue where it actually melted in half on the exhaust. Blew the fuse. I'm glad to see that you were able to put out the fire in time!

[fmansfield444]

It is a possibility that it rubbed through, then maybe spread to the ac lines and then on. It wasn't stretched too bad I mean it had wiggle room but who knows.

Next time I'm definitely gonna run it the long way back on firewall. I kinda wish I had taken the ac off earlier because all it did was get in the way when doing plugs and stuff. It did work though.

I assume it would be hard to find a heater/blower box without the ac stuff on it? Most of these boxes had air conditioning right?

[fmansfield444]

Oh, my fuse was a standard ford megafuse 175A I believe. Got it from the same car my alt came from.

[86VickyLX]

I assume it would be hard to find a heater/blower box without the ac stuff on it? Most of these boxes had air conditioning right?

I don't think I've ever heard of one that didn't have AC. I've never seen one that didn't come with air conditioning.

[fmansfield444]

Make a lot of progress today, I got the new engine harness wired up. Grounds, injectors, everything but the upper intake stuff. I also got a new 3G alt wired in including the dummy light wire. All the transmission and o2 wiring is done. And I got the ignition wired up for the start circuit and the run circuit, fuel pump kicks in and everything with the key.

It was getting late though so I stopped. The engine should run once I put the upper back together and bolt it on.

I still need a belt, and Ill need some fuel clamps and hoses because I have a small fuel leak were I tried to connect hose to the plastic line which won't work too well.

Shouldn't be too much more work to get it running, ill need more obviously like a wiper motor and wheel wells as so on but they can wait.