NEAR DISASTER

J Spencer

I was out with my Pacemaker over the weekend and on the way home it started to 'cut out' and then I noticed smoke coming from under the dash. I pulled over to the side of the street looked under the dash and some wires were on fire. Luckily I was able to blow them out so it doesn't look like too much damage was done. As I don't own a cell phone I flagged down a lady and she called for a fire truck. Of course I had to have the car flatbedded home ( about 4 miles). Looks like I will have to take the gauge cluster out to inspect and see how much repair I have to do.



Has any one tried to call a call center for road service have a bad connection ( a firemans cell phone) and they ask you the make of car and you say Hudson and they keep asking what make. I finally said "this is a classic car and they don't make these anymore" I said" how difficult can this be, you have my name, the address of where the car is at so the tow truck driver will be able to find it." All of a sudden no one on the line, so the firemen took me back the mile or so to where I had just left a gathering of car friends. I used one of their cell phones, called back the Motoring Club, got a lady that I could hear,was very helpful and she was able to assist me. Frustrating to say the least.

It appears as though the wire from the ignition switch to the radio where it went over a bracket for the cowl vent lever wore the insulation off and started the fire. It could have been a lot worse, I could have lost the whole car.

Jim Spencer

I used to have a fire extinguisher in the car but don't now. That will be on my important to do list.

Jon B

Jim, I'm glad you kept calm and got the fire out! The fire extinguisher is a good idea. Also a good idea, is a disconnect switch on the battery (though to be honest, I don't have one!).

hudsonsplasher1

That's a good idea Jon. I have one on all my cars. I turn them off when not using them also.

RL Chilton

Jim-

Glad you got it out. I think getting the fire extinguisher back into the car is a good idea. I carry one in the Hudson, or any old car is a good idea.

Sure could have been a lot worse in a hurry!

J Spencer

Yes, a cut off can be a good idea although in the 25 years I have owned the car I have never disconnect the battery even in the winter time... LUCKY?? Might give it serious thought tho. I would have to find a good one capable of 6 volts, not the puny ones on the mass market now.

Hudson Grandpa

Look to the Optima Battery. 7to 9 dollar part. Still 6 volt. Of course it wouldn't stop a fire when turned on, but saves on battery trickle down. Been wanting one for years. Oops sorry gotta go out and turn it off now.

[Deleted User]

Tonight Show host and collectable car buff (owns two Hudson Hornets) Jay Leno suggests on one of his auto website videos that it's a good idea to have a battery cut off switch on an older car. Especially one that still has much of the original wiring. He points out that you never know, after parking and leaving the car, if a potential electrical short can lead to a fire that goes unnoticed and consequently destroys the vintage car (not to mention what else could go up in flames if in a garage!). Since I saw this video, I installed a cut off switch on my '53 Super Wasp and I disconnect the switch anytime I leave the car unseen for a length of time or for storage.

Glad to hear, Jim, you didn't loose your Pacemaker due to that dash fire!

Dan

Jon B

Many of us know of the famous "Golden Hudson", the gold 1946 Hudson convertible which was given to George Green of Lambertville, New Jersey when he drove his curved-dash Oldsmobile out to the Golden Jubilee of the Automobile in '46. Mr. Green regularly drove that Hudson from that point until sometime -- I'm guessing it was the late sixties or very early 70's. One day, for no particular reason, the car caught fire when it was in the garage. It might have been a malfunction in the clock...who knows? Anyway, it burned to a crisp. All that was left was the metal shell and even the metal body panels were twisted. (Amazingly, the engine could be started when the wiring was restored, and it ran like new.) Of course, Glenn Johnson did an amazing restoration job and the car is still around for all to envy. Still, there's a lesson there. The electricals on the car would have been not more than 25 years old at the time. Some of us (who are long of tooth) re-wired our Hudsons longer ago than that! So, either install a cut-off switch or just disconnect the battery cable.

PAULARGETYPE

Hudson Grandpa I HAD ONE OF THAT TYPE ON MY 39 COUPE AFTER A WHILE IT HAD A BUNCH OF GREEN SLIME IN IT AND DIDN'T LET THE JUCE COME THROUGH IT I REPLACED IT WITH A COLE HEARSE SWITCH THAT WAS 30 YEARS AGO IT STILL WORKS LIKE THE DAY I INSTALLED IT NOW AS FOR FIRE I SEE YOU HAVE ALOT OF RUBBER HOSE UNDER YOUR HOOD FOR FUEL LINE THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!!!! ONE PIN HOLE AND FIRE IS ALL OVER I ALWAYS USE STEEL PIPING ALL THE WAY TO THE CARB JUST ONE FLEX STAINLESS FUEL LINE ALL THE REST STEEL LINE PLEASE TAKE MY ADVICE AND MAKE THE CHANGE YOUR CAR IS TO NICE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN TO IT

[Deleted User]

Dave I have this line for you when you wish to fire prof this issue and remove the plastic filter....

lostmind

I worked at an Ignition shop in the 60's. Repairing burnt wiring was daily occurrence
for us. Bad amp meters and stuck voltage regulators were the main culprits.
And the tin foil around the fuses!