Reply to "Pantera Fire"

I know if I put too much gas in it will overflow and drip right below the driver's side door. And I know if there's a leaking header gasket on the driver's side, and the gas tank is full, or too full, it's a combination that can create a fire. I have a fire extinguisher right behind the driver's seat. So also does a friend keep his fire extinguisher there, and when his Pantera caught fire, it only cracked his rear window, but he extinguished it pronto, so no other damage. A Pantera guy wants to keep his fuel hoses new also, since they crack with age and get brittle. The fuel hoses pass close by the headers, and if leaky, can cause a fire. Them headers, they can get loose all by themselves... so snug them up on occasion and make sure to use a good quality gasket. It happens, but it's preventable. Also, keep an eye on the intake manifold. My Holley carb, though rebuilt, was leaking gas onto the manifold, on the passenger side. I swithed to an Edelbrock carb, which has no gaskets or rubber o-rings below the float bowls. No more fuel on the intake manifold. When I noticed the gas smell, and the fuel on the intake manifold, I soaked it up with a rag and drove home very, very easy. And then took action. We gotta make sure we're covered with fire and theft insurance too, it's cheap enough, so check them policies! Sorry to hear about one of our brothers, but it won't likely total his Pantera, to the scrap heap, just another project.... Sorry to hear, so let's d a maintenance check, and prevent that as best we can.