Under hood fire :(

[Dragster66ss]

My 77 sierra classic caught on fire under the hood last night. I'm not sure what started it yet, but leaning towards electrical. Burned most of the wires from the harness, windshield wiper motor, washer fluid container, etc. Got it put out with fire extinguisher. I'll try and get some pics tomorrow.

Here's my question. What are my options as for re-wiring the old girl? Will definitely need complete wiring harness. Is this going to be something very specific, or is there a range of trucks that will fit? How do I tell? Can I simply order a new/repop?

This is definitely not a WTB post,, I'm looking for advice/options of ways to replace the parts and get my truck back running.

Thanks in advance!
Lee Roberson

[Eyegore]

I would see what the local salvage yards have and see if you could find a similar year. I believe 76 thru 78 would cover you fine and just locate a truck with the same options you have. I was just at the wrecking yard today and their were several truck like you mentioned all with wiring harnesses in place, so I think you can find somethong sufficent to fix your up.

[Dragster66ss]

Thanks, Yea thats what I was wondering about, how specific it needed to be.

Thanks again

[Eyegore]

If you keep in that 76 - 78 possibly 79 i think you'd be fine. I was looking at the electrical diagrams for these trucks and their all about the same except for power windows and possibly ac.

[old Rusty C10]

you can try painless wiring .. or search wiring harnesses on the net.. i know on this site recently i saw several mentioned... you can also do the wrecking yard thing but you dont know how good the harness is and you have to make sure its compatible to your truck... also make sure you ont have any shorts as a result of the fire .. you will fix your truck to burn it up again.... on a side note you are kinda lucky when my battery shifted on my el camino the whole thing went up and it was toast yours is salvagable

[Dragster66ss]

Thanks again guys.

Yes VERY lucky. The wife happened to look out and see flames under the truck (from still-burning melted plastic that had dropped down). The next door neighbor is a deputy sherrif and was on the way with his extinguisher. More burned than what I mentioned, but thats the part I'm unsure about getting the correct part.

Fire claimed the speedo cable; will need a set of plug wires; air filter burned completely up, so will be taking the carb off for a cleaning (needs going through anyway).

I was thinking of the possibility of rewiring only to catch fire again. Really wish I knew for sure what the culprit was that started the blaze.

It got hot enough under there that the driver's side hood spring came off.

What would be other area's of concern? I'm pretty sure nothing got down into the engine, as i never touched the acc pedal or bumped the starter.

Thanks for the input

[flamingbig10]

I found a place that sales harness, about half the price as painless http://www.hotrodwires.com/18Circuit.html

[78 Big10 454]

Drag: Invest in new wiring if at all possible. Why replace old with old? 30+ years can take its toll on wiring. Lord knows what the previous owners may have butchered without you knowing it. As a retired firefighter (33 years with Los Angeles City F.D.), it doesn't take much for a car to go up in flames. All you need is some worn insulation and *POOF*, you got a problem. Make sure your underhood fuel lines/filter are intact, so that source can be eliminated.

[Dragster66ss]

Thanks again for the responses.

What would be a good instruction manual to show exactly how everything goes? "Chilton's" just as good as any? or are there other/better options?

Thanks.

[old Rusty C10]

haynes usually has a wiring diagram in there... could the battery or the positive cable have grounded out?

[71swb4x4]

The best manual will be the Helms manual for that old truck. TONS of good information in those.