[Spridgets] fire extinguisher?

[Dean Hedin]

Fire extiguishers are a good thing, but let's talk about preventing fires in the first place.

The story about the fried car that Ryan and I looked at this past weekend was that the owner started it
in front of his house to let it idle and warm up.

He then walked into the garage to do something else. Then poof. 

So there is lesson one.  Don't leave the car running unattended. 

I suspect that there was either:
a) A old, dryed out, & cracked fuel line.
b) A loose hose clamp.
c) Debris in the float valve orfice, preventing the valve from closing fully.
d) Debris blocking the vent on top of the float bowls.

FWIW, I have personal and recent experience with item d).
What happens is that with the vent blocked, a bubble of air gets trapped above the float and prevents 
it from closing the valve.  Fuel at full pump pressure still gets to the jet.

An electric fuel pump is scary when you consider any of the above.  
Don't leave the ignition on with the pump running, without the engine running.
In fact it would be nice to have a circuit that would only energize the pump
if the motor is turning.

Be very suspicious if you encounter the "all of the sudden it's running really rich" symptom
or if you smell gas.

When is the last time you replaced the fuel line that connects your two SU's together?
You probably looked at it and saw that it was braided and maybe you felt secured by this.  Wrong.

Go out and get some fresh 1/4 fuel line.  New stainless braiding can be canibalized from the flex faucet hoses 
they sell at the home inprovement centers.  The rubber end caps can be salvaged from your old line or you can
fabricate new ones.

And don't use the modern hose clamps that cut into the line.   Use the original banded type.

It looks like this when your all done and you can hopefully rest a little easier:  
http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm135/brokencase_photos/enginebay/IMGP1409-01.jpg