R.I.P Vettie

[Bronze85]

Glad you were able to get it out of the house, these fires seem so prevalent. :confused

 

[PAULIE B]

SORRY TO HEAR THE BAD NEWS ABOUT THE VETTE. THANK GOD NOBODY GOT HURT!!! GO HAVE A BEER AND REMINISCE ON THE GOOD RIDES YOU HAD!!

 

[vetteboy86]

It's tough to put into words. It's a miracle everyone is safe, however the loss is disappointing.

Keep us posted if you find out what the failure was. I've always considered putting an extinguisher in the car, but I'm curious if you had one when the fire started would you have been able to knock it down?

 

[boomdriver]

It's tough to put into words. It's a miracle everyone is safe, however the loss is disappointing.

Keep us posted if you find out what the failure was. I've always considered putting an extinguisher in the car, but I'm curious if you had one when the fire started would you have been able to knock it down?

There are Halon systems for under-hood.

 

[bill81vette]

Sorry to hear about your vette Bill!!!!
Everything will work out,always does!
keep your chin up!!!!
I hope its not beyond repair!

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Dang, I am sorry to hear about Vettie,s death.

You have had Vettie and been here for at least as long as I have had Thunder. Thunder is only in storage 5000 miles away but I still miss the car every day.

I feel your loss:cry

 

[Blue92]

I would not be surprised to find out that a fuel leak developed due to the garbage gas with 10% corn we are being forced to buy.

 

[LT4man]

Bill, so sorry to hear about your loss!

I am just so thankful that no one got hurt!

You and Zach will be in my prayers.

You WILL find work and you WILL find yourself in another Corvette.

SAVE the WAVE!

 

[geekinavette]

Ok back late last night from filming, and what a grueling 6 days that was! (but an interesting experience)

Getting away for a few days was a good thing, but coming home and seeing it sitting in the driveway was a tough pill to swallow.

The car did not have full coverage insurance...just doesn't make sense financially to pay that much in insurance for a '84 with over 200K miles, its worth so little.

As for the cause...all I know is that there was a tremendous backfire under the hood. That is typically caused by some mechanical failure in the valve train...like an intake valve that sticks open for one reason or another (piece of debris, failed lifter...etc). I probably won't ever know what caused the backfire. Whether the force from that ruptured a fuel line, or ignited something else...that I don't know.

Unless something very unusual happens financially (highly unlikely in this economy), I don't see another Vette in my future any time soon.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and well wishes...I sure hope you're right.

Bill

 

[nelson84]

Well that sucks. It really is a crossfire at its fullest. On to something better to post about.

What vette are you going to buy next? Another crossfire? A little step up to TPI or plug your nose and by an optispark LT1. Or go all out and get a 58-61 vette. Those are my favorite.

You have a big decision to make on which vette to buy nexthnoes. Go sniff around ebay and craigslist.

Did you have an x-ram or renegade on that crossfire?

 

[Yoda]

Nelson your humor in this got lost for me... :eyerole

Not only is Bill a member here but a personal friend of mine, and I find your tart reply and comment about what intake Bill was running in very bad taste... but hey that's just probably me

Here is a tart reply... geekinavette has probably forgot more about the 1984 Corvette than you "Think" you ever knew!!

I doubt he'll be "plugging his nose or go all out" looking for a replacement... read the end of his last post!!

Bud Dougherty
Posted as Friend of geekinavette

Well that sucks. It really is a crossfire at its fullest. On to something better to post about.

What vette are you going to buy next? Another crossfire? A little step up to TPI or plug your nose and by an optispark LT1. Or go all out and get a 58-61 vette. Those are my favorite.

You have a big decision to make on which vette to buy nexthnoes. Go sniff around ebay and craigslist.

Did you have an x-ram or renegade on that crossfire?

 

[geekinavette]

I agree with you, Bud. Thank you for those kind words, your friendship means more to me than any car ever could. You really would not have believed how this thing felt with this latest combo...what you experienced in BG was nothing (comparatively speaking).

Nelson,
Normally I would not even waste my time addressing such an idiotic post. However, with recent events I'm not exactly myself, so...

I don't mind discussing my experiences with various engine combinations, hell that's why I do them. However, I am not terribly inclined to do so to such an obviously closed mind. Instead, as an engineer myself, what I see is a complete lack of respect for the engineering efforts that step by step lead to the incredible "bang for the buck" that defines the history of the Corvette. Yes each evolutionary step has its aspects that did not yield stellar results, and the L83 is certainly no exception, but these "risks" are what teach us as engineers what does and what doesn't work. What you see as being an outlet for a "stuck up" personality I see as an attempt to address long-standing shortcomings, regardless of whether I personally "like" or "dislike" the system itself. Each step that GM has released since 1982 has ultimately resulted in overall improvements in performance and/or efficiency. Recent political and economic issues aside, this technological evolution is to be applauded and respected. If you can't bring yourself to respect this evolutionary process...then maybe walking everywhere for a year or two would be helpful.

For others that may be wondering the same thing (that might actually appreciate the info)...

While I was looking forward to the day when I could afford a Renegade, and no chance in hell of bolting the horribly designed X-ram to anything I own...my current intake was a stock crossfire intake with the internal EGR "finger" removed. I do not use EGR, and that thing was a serious source of fuel distribution issues with this intake. My previous intake was an interesting siamesing modification, which in combination with a very radical long-duration cam (Edelbrock 2204) yielded some pretty insane pulling power at higher RPMs, it was just too much...tuning issues, severe loss of low-end torque...etc. While it sounded insanely cool, I wasn't happy with it. The latest combo was with just a stock non-ported non-siamesed intake (just the EGR finger removed), but what I did was use a thick (Victor if memory serves) intake manifold gasket, with the runner divider removed and a little rounding of the divider edges on the intake itself...to do the same thing as the previous siamesed cut, but to a lesser degree so as not to loose so much low end. In addition, I used a lower duration cam (Comp 08-465-8 w/ 1.6 rockers), and that combination (both with Edelbrock Performer heads and long tube headers), once the tuning started getting close, moved the torque peak down to a more streetable range and was just pure fun to drive.

 

[geekinavette]

Oh yeah I forgot...if anyone wants to see them, I took more pictures of the aftermath:

misterbill.homeip.net - /vette/fire/

(they're big pictures, 3M I think)

Ironic fate that its going to end up being parted out as that's where it was headed when I bought it almost 10 years ago. At least it got another 10 years of life, and contributed a countless amount of testing towards improving the Crossfire system and DIY EFI in general...but still what a damn shame.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Fiberglass burns fast!

Good morning Bill,

Anyone that has not experienced composite material burning has no idea what they are up against. Without a tanker truck full of foam you do not stand a chance. Even with one you are lucky to stop the flames.

A boat at the marina at home caught on fire with the owner on board on a Sunday afternoon. His boat burnt to the waterline so quickly he did not manage to save a single item and 3 more boats were badly damaged.

Your pictures tell a scary story, I am glad you got it out of the garage before the house suffered.

Your actions to save the house and prevent personal injury were the right choice at the right time.

Igeaux

 

[geekinavette]

Well I have always heard that the material they used was not fiberglass from 82 or so and up...but man that sure looks like fiberglass to me! I really would like to know just what exactly that material is. However, you're right once it spread to the hood material it went up SO fast.

Scary.

 

[Red Vette]

Nelson your humor in this got lost for me... :eyerole

Not only is Bill a member here but a personal friend of mine, and I find your tart reply and comment about what intake Bill was running in very bad taste... but hey that's just probably me

Here is a tart reply... geekinavette has probably forgot more about the 1984 Corvette than you "Think" you ever knew!!

I doubt he'll be "plugging his nose or go all out" looking for a replacement... read the end of his last post!!

Bud Dougherty
Posted as Friend of geekinavette

I agree with Bud's comments. All the good wishes from the CAC members but one: fortunately for me I have Nelson on my ignore list as I find some of his posts insulting and in bad taste. He will never disappoint you with his malevalent comments. Bill certainly has had more than his share of bad luck, he doesn't need Nelson to continue to pile it on. I previously sent my condolences and comments to Bill on the Rocky Mountain Corvette Social Club site before I read his post on the CAC. Bill is a good friend, and as late as last Memorial Day, he had organized a cruise for the RMCSC from Colorado Springs to see Yoda. I was looking forward to the cruise. Due to circumstances, the cruise was cancelled. It was going to be fun trip with Bill and Zach and I was disappointed that it did not occur. I agree with Gregory, Bill, you will get the job you want and need, and hopefully you will get another Corvette. Please stay in both the RMCSC and CAC sites, otherwise Patrick will only have REMO to pick on.
Barrett

 

[geekinavette]

Yeah I was very disappointed we had to cancel the trip to Amarillo due to being laid off. I WILL make that up someday...if I have to drive my 'ol beat up blazer down there!

I have no intention of leaving either this site nor the local club...I may be Vetteless for now, but the friendships are far more valuable.

Bill

 

[Toms007]

Well Bill, I don't think that I can add anything that Bud and Barrett didn't already say. Some people are just have no respect. I, too, value the friendship that I have made with you and feel terrible that you have experienced a streak of unfortunate luck. I don't think that anything I can say can help you bear the misfortune any better than what has been said.

With that said.......Bill, I think a little Adams Polish on that hood and we can buff it right out. The pictures are just amazing. You're right, SMC certainly LOOKS like fiberglass in that stage.

Let me know if there is anything that I can do.

 

[geekinavette]

The words mean more than you realize, Tom. (and Bud and everyone else)

BTW thanks so much for the movie costume donations!

 

[vett boy]

Looked at the photos and there is no doubt it's toast .I feel bad I've always had a bond with my cars and I know how I'd feel .The fact that a replacement might not be real soon isn't good either.I wish ya the best .