Can you save a motor that's been through a fire? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can you save a motor that's been through a fire?

Posted: 1/25/2020 11:56:10 PM EDT

My dad's barn just burned down and it had my Hemi in it. There was a bunch of shit on top of it so I couldn't see it, but there's probably no saving it is there?

Posted: 1/26/2020 12:10:27 AM EDT

[#1]

Depends on if enough shit fell on it during the fire and insulated it from the heat. Either way I'd be taking it apart.

Posted: 1/26/2020 12:11:21 AM EDT

[#2]

That sucks.

I guess it depends on how hot it got. It might be okay. Post pics when you get it uncovered.

Posted: 1/26/2020 12:34:45 AM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
That sucks.

I guess it depends on how hot it got. It might be okay. Post pics when you get it uncovered.

View Quote

I will, but seeing the mustang that was sitting next to it doesn't give me much hope, because it's history.

That being said, if it can be rebuilt, it's the perfect motor. (just a lot shittier and froze up than this one)

Posted: 1/26/2020 9:51:27 AM EDT

[#4]

As a rule yes. We had a few company trucks in fires at a former employer. plastic stuff and gaskets would melt. The iron parts did not care. Look at valve guide seals.

Posted: 1/26/2020 10:01:56 AM EDT

[#5]

Burnt hellcat

Posted: 1/26/2020 11:43:08 AM EDT

[#6]

I've rebuilt a couple that burnt. One of them the intake melted and ran down the valves and puddled up on top of a few of the pistons. I didn't reuse those heads.

Posted: 1/26/2020 3:26:10 PM EDT

[#7]

My first job when I started at a Bobcat dealer 15 years ago was a track loader that caught on fire from some flammable liquid hitting a hot turbo after engine shutdown. The customer bought it cheap from the insurance company. It got all new plastic & rubber parts, including the valve cover gasket but not the oil pan gasket. It ran fine afterward.

Posted: 1/26/2020 11:42:06 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
My first job when I started at a Bobcat dealer 15 years ago was a track loader that caught on fire from some flammable liquid hitting a hot turbo after engine shutdown. The customer bought it cheap from the insurance company. It got all new plastic & rubber parts, including the valve cover gasket but not the oil pan gasket. It ran fine afterward.

View Quote

The one thing he's glad burned up was his Bobcat. It's been in the shop at least one a month for the past year.

I went over there today, but seeing it made me feel so sick I didn't go try to dig my motor out.

Posted: 1/30/2020 12:48:43 PM EDT

[#9]

It'll be fine., it's seasoned now.

Posted: 1/30/2020 7:13:15 PM EDT

[#10]

I'd replace valve springs. Fire can mess with the temper / heat treatment

Posted: 1/30/2020 9:11:41 PM EDT

[#11]

When you decide to build it, just get the line bore checked carefully, deck squared and surfaced and heads resurfaced

Posted: 1/31/2020 6:44:08 PM EDT

[#12]

1st Gen Hemi? I would guess the block and heads can be saved. Anything aluminum melted into puddles?

Posted: 1/31/2020 7:13:08 PM EDT

[#13]

One of my old bosses had a customer he was rebuilding the carburetor on for. Vehicle was sitting in the owners garage with the carb off. Owners son came in to steal some things from the old man to sell for drugs and fired up the Corvette. Fuel sprayed directly into the intake, caught fire, ran poorly, melted the starter wire so when he shut it off it kept spining and spraying fuel, son grabs fire extinguisher and sprays the engine, which sucked in all that particulate from the extinguisher. Max saved the owners engine, and cleaned up the engine compartment. But it involved yanking the engine and doing a complete rebuild from the ground up.

Posted: 1/31/2020 8:28:04 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
1st Gen Hemi? I would guess the block and heads can be saved. Anything aluminum melted into puddles?

View Quote

I haven't had a chance to check on it.

Posted: 1/31/2020 9:22:29 PM EDT

[#15]

unless there is sentimental value there is no way its worth it on modern engines. too much plastic.

Posted: 2/10/2020 12:08:24 PM EDT

[#16]

Pics aren't loading.

Posted: 2/17/2020 1:55:38 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Pics aren't loading.

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I haven't been able to make it back over there, but dad text me and said it's not saveable.

I guess it took more damage than I figured it would have. It still had an intake manifold and air cleaner on it.

My Hemi, the '66 Mustang and the '49 Power Wagon were complete losses.

Posted: 2/17/2020 8:50:59 AM EDT

[#18]

My guess is if you reseal the engine you should be alright.

Posted: 2/17/2020 12:46:00 PM EDT

[#19]

Posted: 2/17/2020 7:50:24 PM EDT

[#20]

RIP sorry dude. What caused the fire?

Posted: 2/17/2020 8:00:05 PM EDT

[#21]

My money is on that engine is rebuildable. Unless insurance is going to give you a big fat Hemi check.

Posted: 2/17/2020 8:21:18 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmemegenerator.net%2Fimg%2Finstances%2F78053278%2Fshes-dead-jim.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

I haven't been able to make it back over there, but dad text me and said it's not saveable.

https://i.imgur.com/ShhYQ6W.jpg

I guess it took more damage than I figured it would have. It still had an intake manifold and air cleaner on it.

My Hemi, the '66 Mustang and the '49 Power Wagon were complete losses.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.chron.com%2Ftubular%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F03%2Fgame-of-thrones-for-the-homies-pour-one-out.gif&f=1&nofb=1

View Quote

It's ugly, but I bet the basic castings and crank would be usable for a total overhaul. Shit can every spring, bolt, valve, etc. Probably not worth it though.

Posted: 2/17/2020 8:26:52 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
RIP sorry dude. What caused the fire?

View Quote

He had just bought a 49 Power Wagon and was going to put a sign on the door for his business to park out front, and from my understanding put linseed oil on it and the oil selfcombusted.

Posted: 3/17/2020 12:22:16 AM EDT

[#24]

I used a 350 that was in a fire years ago. I took off the intake because the carb was half way in it. I had to replace the front cam bearing and timing set(GM plastic toothed gear). I don't remember what I did with the heads. But it ran fine once I got the issues fixed.

Posted: 3/17/2020 1:08:20 AM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
I used a 350 that was in a fire years ago. I took off the intake because the carb was half way in it. I had to replace the front cam bearing and timing set(GM plastic toothed gear). I don't remember what I did with the heads. But it ran fine once I got the issues fixed.

View Quote

This was a motor that was, honestly, past being a basket case when I got it. By the time I got it, it was so rusted I was breaking impact sockets trying to get bolts loose.

Posted: 3/17/2020 5:29:25 AM EDT

[#26]

If you don't want it to be salvageable, we'll OK I guess.

But it is.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can you save a motor that's been through a fire?

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