Carb Fire Risk?, Need advice about carbs and air filters Options

[NickFBrown]

I'm considering a '73 1.7 that some idiot put a single carb conversion on. It would be no problem a put on dual carbs instead BUT my last 914 burned when the right air filter caught fire (backfire?). It normally never backfired but this was on a hot restart after being stuck in stopped traffic on a very hot day.

Has anyone heard of this happening with dual Webers using the typical open sided air filters? I know there must be thousands of cars with this set-up. So, am I worrying for no reason.

Nick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[VaccaRabite]

Short answer: Yes. They can be a fire risk.
Any time you have a paper element or oil coated fabric element right on the carb top there is a chance it will catch if the car burps up through the carbs.

Anything that moves the filter farther from the top of the carb helps mitigate that risk.

Keeping the car in tune mitigates that risk. If you have a constant lean backfire then you are gambling.

But you are vastly more likely to have a fire start from a fuel leak or an oil leak then from a carb filter fire.

There have been millions of cars on the road with dual carbs over the years. Some of them burned due to filter fires - but the number is really small. So yes, it CAN happen. But if you keep your car in any sort of tune, its not likely to. Keep your car in a reasonable tune, and replace your fuel lines every 5-7 years.

Zach

[NickFBrown]

Short answer: Yes. They can be a fire risk.
Any time you have a paper element or oil coated fabric element right on the carb top there is a chance it will catch if the car burps up through the carbs.

Anything that moves the filter farther from the top of the carb helps mitigate that risk.

Keeping the car in tune mitigates that risk. If you have a constant lean backfire then you are gambling.

But you are vastly more likely to have a fire start from a fuel leak or an oil leak then from a carb filter fire.

There have been millions of cars on the road with dual carbs over the years. Some of them burned due to filter fires - but the number is really small. So yes, it CAN happen. But if you keep your car in any sort of tune, its not likely to. Keep your car in a reasonable tune, and replace your fuel lines every 5-7 years.

Zach

Thanks, everybody, for the advice. I will not install any carb on any car with out a heat insulator. I think that would probably have prevented the fire but it never occurred to me even though I believed hot fuel in the float caused it. I may still try to find a filter box if only to reduce the intake noise.

Nick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)