D651WEY

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Was just driving along heard a pop at the back looked in my mirror and saw flames so pulled over and legged it as I had a full tank of petrol in there

Most importantly I didn't get hurt and luckily didn't have the children with me

[BIG_MVS]

So sorry to see this. It must have been awful seeing it burn and being helpless to do anything. Glad you are OK and no one else was involved.

That's sickening Ced but you're OK so that's all that matters.

A very, very sad sight to see.. you must be heart broken Cedric. Gutted for you..

[johnb]

All that work, time and effort. Not wasted because you had the experience of doing it but so sad to see.

[stephendell]

Terrible. Having had a similar experience I always carry an extinguisher in the gta and make sure a quick release battery terminal is still fitted.

Hopefully you had it well insured!

Retrospective vehicle valuation available if required.

So sorry to see this Cedric. Glad you're ok though.

I hate to ask, but do you know what the pop was?

I called in at a local garage recently to ask about getting my rear caliper rebuilt. The garage is a well respected classic / race preparation place.

I showed him the engine bay and he said the fuel pressure regulator gauge should always be removed and blanked off with the plug once the tuning has been set up. He said he was at a race meet a while back and a guy with a GT40 had the gauge pop and spray fuel all over the engine bay. I think he was in the paddocks at the time and so they caught it before there was too much damage.

I need to blank mine off. Sorry, I sort of hope it's not that, but just felt it neccesary to say something just in case someone else had the same.

I replaced the line that my guage was "T"d into with a single line rather than blanking it off. In my mind this removes 3 places that could develop a future leak, all off the T.

Thanks for your messages guys. Gutted but at the end of the day it's just a car... We live and learn, the next car will have fully plumbed in extinguishers for sure...

Darren, tbh I have no idea what popped but could be the gauge who knows, I was still using it as I was still trying to set it up properly but could be many things... Def fuel or oil related to catch so fast... Hopefully I'll get the salvage back thru the insurance and will be able to have a better look, but in the state it in it probably will be just guesses...

That is terrible news after all that work, but It is a thing that everyone with high-pressure fuel lines should be wary of and they should be replaced with a ethanol proof.
Remember that the % of ethanol has been increased and with petrol lines under pressure it is not a risk worth taking it turns black rubber to jelly.
Unless the gage states that it is ethanol proof it will just have normal seals. Just come back from a job the house holder complained of a smell of kerosene old pump seals turned to jelly they have even put the stuff in kerosene, all new pumps have green seals.

Yes Cedric I think you're right. Could be a fuel line that popped, or could be an oil feed.

Such a shame.

Do you think you'll get another one?

[mettersl]

Sad to see Cedric, but glad you are all OK.
There may be a hitch in getting it back, unless you have an appropriate waste licence. I'd have thought there are a few things in the engine bay that could be worth rescuing...engine wise after all your work, you know the list.
I know the rules have changed, but under the old rules that looks like a cat a or B, both need licences to buy the remains. Stephen may have more understanding of the rules, or a way around them.
Looking on the bright side, values are on the up, you just have to persuade them that the barn find Le Mans is the same model. 10 k plus 20 for restoration makes a GTA turbo worth 30?
Lee

Cedric

So gutted for you, good to hear you are okay.

That is horrendous. Gladly no injuries but such a shame after all the hard work. Hopefully the insurance company is ok & you get sorted quickly
All the best