Bee Jay's 914-six Conversion, The car just burned down! Options

[Justinp71]

Man that sucks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)...

So it sounds like you had the fuel injection pump feeding your carbs? I'm not sure if the plastic fuel filters are good for more than 15psi... I guess if anything we can all learn from this. Is there a pressure regulator in the system?

But on the bright side your lucky the magnesium trans didn't catch fire because those melt real fast, turn into a fireball.... must rebuild !!!!

[patssle]

Holy crap! I've definitely been following your progress closely as I'm doing the same conversion. Of course it sucks, but most importantly, you're ok.

Were you running a pressure regulator, you mentioned high fuel pressure? For any others doing a conversion with carbs (or a carbed /4), maybe lean towards a 3.5 psi fuel pump for safety reasons? That's what I did instead of buying a regulator.

It's right under the kids' rooms!

If I was you and you plan on staying there, I would spray the top of the garage ceiling with a flame retardant material. At least it would give some extra time to get out.

[campbellcj]

It's right under the kids' rooms!

If I was you and you plan on staying there, I would spray the top of the garage ceiling with a flame retardant material. At least it would give some extra time to get out.

Interesting idea - we do intend to move but it will be 2-3+ years depending on finances. Virtually all of the houses in our area have attached garages so that risk factor will be tough to avoid. I am planning a modest garage overhaul after my latest 914 insanity is 'done' so I'll think about some insulating material and/or an automated fire system. I just read that sprinkler systems are now required for new residential construction in much of California...

[bcheney]

Bee Jay, I'm very sorry to hear this news...Everyone on this board is feeling a small bit of your pain. Keep the faith...you're safe, you have a roof over your head and things can and will get better as long as you don't beat yourself up over this. Accidents happen and cause havoc...it's how we all choose to react that counts. Hang in their brother...

[Krank]

Sorry to hear about the car. Things may look a little brighter in a few days. Try to keep positive. The same thing happened to my neighbor, engine fire in a Bronco. The truck fired up and launched thru the garage door (parked in gear). The heat from the fire in the engine bay was enough to cause a cylinder to fire and siphon more fuel to keep it running for a bit.

[Jeff Hail]

If Milt Minter was still alive he would probably tell you the actual true story of "Donkey Bop". Milts not here to tell it so I will ... it has to do with setbacks. Setbacks are inevitable, they teach us things. You are one lucky guy to have not been in that car when it lit up. Move away from the moment and towards where you want to be. We all feel your pain here.

The Story of
"Donkey Bop"

Once upon a time, and not too terribly long ago either, there was a bar in Fresno where a regular customer was a middle-aged Mexican gentleman named Jose.

One day Jose asked the bartender, “Do you know the name of that beautiful song I always hear playing on the juke box here called Donkey Bop?”

“Donkey Bop?” said the bartender. “Never heard of it.”

“I hear it playing all the time when I’m in here," Jose told him. "It is beautiful."

Jose continued to pester the bartender about the tune, but with no results. The bartender said he’d ask the person who serviced the juke box the next time he came in if he had a song called Donkey Bop. No such tune, was the report back.

Finally, one day Jose was in the bar when the song started playing.

“This is it! This is it!” he told the bartender excitedly as he rushing over to the juke box.

When the song ended Jose watched the route the disc took as it was extracted by the mechanical arm and then placed back in its slot. He saw the number where the disc had been placed was E11. He flipped through the menu of songs, and when he did he saw the name of the tune he knew as Donkey Bop was in fact...

“Don’t Give Up!”

[rfuerst911sc]

This is a disappointing setback but you can get past it. First off do the best you can at assessing the damage as this will be helpful working with the insurance company. Get the most you can out of them that is step one. Then as others have stated make a list of items you will need. Lots of folks on this forum that are willing to help in any way they can. Then methodically go about rebuilding her. Yes it will take time and money but we know that going in with loving old cars. There will be a time where you will look back and see this event made you a stronger man. Good luck and keep us posted. Glad you are OK.

[Cairo94507]

I am very sorry for your set back. This is one of every 914 owners worst fears. I hope your insurance company covers the damage and you are able to come out of this whole again or maybe even better off. Best wishes.

[PanelBilly]

Fire touched my life too, except it was the house and since I kept the car in a shop it didn't get burned. Everything else was gone. I have a handful of photographs that they recovered and they restored a violin that I played when I was little. Maybe that's why I'm so attached to the car.

If the insurance company pays for the car, do you need to turn it over to them?

[campbellcj]

If the insurance company pays for the car, do you need to turn it over to them?

I'm sure this varies but my understanding is if the car is 'totaled' for insurance purposes, you either turn it over or may have the option to buy it back for essentially scrap value.

From the pics I do not suspect this car will be 'totaled'. The paint and rear trim are toast but the engine and bulk of the car seem intact. Seems like BeeJay's main mission is to get enough to cover a quality repaint.

[echocanyons]

This is very sad, you have put a ton of work into your car and were just about at the finishing point (it there ever is one).

Sounds like you are going to use this as an opportunity to make it even better.

I hope your tub is salvageable.

[championgt1]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[Jeffs9146]

Wow, now I am afraid to hook up my battery!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blowup.gif)


Bummer!!

[rick 918-S]

Man that sux! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Bee Jay]

Thanks for all of the words of encouragement guys. I'm still bummed but feeling much better. Going from "to hell with this cursed, possesed car, I hope they total it and tow it off" to "I'm going to rebuild it again" did a lot to get me out of my funk. I had dinner with my daughter tonight and I told her about the Porsche. She spent a lot of time in that car when she was little and not rebuilding the car was not an option to her. She thinks I have superpowers when it comes to cars. The USAA appraiser will come by Monday. I've been out of the service ten years now, but they still call me Col. Jones. We'll see how they are Monday. I'll be home in San Antonio eating my Momma's enchiladdas and apple pie for the rest of the week.
I wanted to defiantly proclaim that I finished my six conversion!!!!!! I finished it, I drove it, and it was beautiful.....until disaster struck. So in that spirit, I need to post my originally planned Sunday evening write up on the K&N Rain Hat install.

Wayne Dempsey, owner of Pelican Parts, and a good friend, had the K&N Watershield Air Cleaners in Stock. He got them to me in less than a day. I had no idea so much came in the kit, and I always thought the rain shields were fiberglass or plastic. Nope, these tops are heavy steel. I spent the weekend installing them with the vapor lines. One small problem I had to adress, the passenger side hat is up against the trunk firewall. Other than that, I think they are well worth the money. Before installing the hat lids, I synched the carbs with my special carb synchronizing tool, and I bled the brakes and adjusted the rear rotor clearance. With air cleaners, the car is drivable. I wouldn't want a carb backfire to cause a fire and burn the car up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
Bee Jay

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[Gint]

Wow. Sorry to hear about the fire. Looks very fixable though. Keep the faith.

[jeeperjohn56]

BeeJay, Sorry about your car, that sucks that it all happen in less than a few minutes but it can be rebuilt, but if you decide to change your mind and move on to something else, I would like your exhaust system. Only if you change your mind on rebuilding it. John

[rnellums]

If they do decide that yours is totaled I have some supporting documentation I can send you from when my car got totaled by a guy running a red light two weeks ago. my car was a stockish 2.0L. it was fully restored, but honestly wasn't in better condition than yours. His insurance company paid me just over 16,000 for mine. I can provide documentation if necessary.

One of the things that I think helped was the photo album I made for the appraisor showing pictures from my build over the past 8 years. It shows how much time you have invested beyond just the parts value.

[Chris Pincetich]

So bummed to read this, so sorry for your losses (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I can't believe it started and ran after/during the fire. Your engine is eager to have the 914 rebuilt! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Root_Werks]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I'm really sorry to read about this. I'm glad you are okay (didn't get caught in the fire).