Neighbor’s 54 F100 burnt / Salvage Sale ?s

[John Burne]

Hello Fellow Barn Members,
It’s been a few years but I’m still loving my 55 F100 up in Maine with some upgrades you all coached me through. While down in Florida this winter I saw an awful incident. An older gentleman, Ford enthusiast, finally had his 54 F100 finished at the last of several shops up north and trailered down to his South FL. condo. After just a month or so the truck burnt, the newly upholstered cab fully engulfed in flames. The truck was underinsured but the company has totaled the truck and allowed the owner to sell it as salvage. The owner has health limitations and we can’t be parting it out in the small condo parking lot, so it has to go on a one price deal. All the running gear is prof built Chev with a Chev front end, there are many chrome and stainless parts like dual exhaust, stainless gas tank, chrome bumpers and a 56 Chrome grille kit, chrome tail lights, new fenders and much more. Everything in the cab is cooked. I don’t know how to advise this nice guy, who is just devastated by the loss and out a lot of money from his fixed retirement income. I would appreciate any thoughts on good vintage auto salvage companies or maybe other ideas. The truck will have to move fairly soon. If I can remember how to post photos here I will. Thanks in advance for any help. - John

[John Burne]

Thanks for the help posting the photos. I have more if needed. Just a heartbreaking story. This truck was really restored beautifully and suddenly the owners dream truck was ruined in a moment. I’m hoping to find someone that will offer a fair price as either a high end parts truck or maybe save it. Thanks again, I’m trying to help this devastated owner out before I head north in a few weeks. - John

[40cpe]

I can't offer advice on re-couping some of your friends loss, but he has my sympathy. I hope it works out for the best.

To post your saved pictures, go to the message box below and click on the "go advanced" box. In the top line above the box, you will find a paper clip. Click on it, then click on "saved file" in the box that pops up. When you have loaded the pictures, click on the "upload" box and you're done.

[mercman from oz]

Our hearts go out to this poor gentleman over the loss of his 1955 For F100

[mercman from oz]

Before the fire photo of 1955 Ford F100 with 56 Ford Grille

[56sedandelivery]

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Any idea what happened?

[paul2748]

A warning to all - insure it for the correct amount . Saving a few dollars on coverage now and you may regret it later.

[KULTULZ]

And use some type of battery disconnect while parked. I a$$-u-me this was an electrical fire.

[56 Panel]

I can not imagine how he feels. Sure hope everything works out ok.

[miker98038]

That’s really a shame, I can’t imagine how he feels except not good.

Don’t take me wrong here, I don’t know anything about fire and sheet metal. I assume the cab is warped beyond repair. Probably the doors too, the inner sheet metal has to be badly damaged. Likewise the hood. If I understand correctly it’s got some kind of Chevy front clip? Like the whole front suspension and steering, etc? If so, you might get more action on one of the street rod sites. I’ve got a couple “modified” or “restomods” myself.

If there’s not much damage under the hood, it’s a really nice starting point for a guy with just a cab and everything else is worn out.

[Zeke3]

What a helpless feeling, to have a fire and not have anything to attack it with. Carry a good fire extinguisher.

[John Burne]

Thank you all for your sympathies and suggestions, I will certainly pass them on. I’m just trying to gather all the collective advice I can get before I head north. I agree the cab is likely warped and the wiring is clearly gone. We can all learn from this sad situation. I’m certainly going to be checking the two fire extinguishers in my truck, updating the insurance and adding some safety switches and better practices. This owner even during his distress said he hoped this never happened to another truck owner. Any other additional advice will be considered and appreciated. Thanks again - John

[Stephenorf]

Man, what a disaster. My heart goes out to the owner. And I can't imagine watching it burn and not being able to do anything about it. Even if he had fire extinguishers, they would probably have been in the cab which may have been too hot to enter by the tine he noticed the fire.

If it just came out of a shop, did the shop do any of the wiring? I'm just wondering if someone made a mistake that ended up causing a fire like that. I suppose we'll never know since all the wiring is more or less gone.

[JimNNN]

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

And use some type of battery disconnect while parked. I a$$-u-me this was an electrical fire.

That's the code I live by. Though I've never had persistent electrical problems with my three old cars, they all still have battery disconnects installed. I'm compulsive about making sure the disconnects are shut off overnight or if the car will be parked for a long time. Keep extinguishers in your cars, too.


When I was in Ireland 20+ years ago, I came across a car that had caught on fire. Not terrorism, but a likely electrical fire, according to a person who talked to the owner. It's a frightening thing to see, especially when the gas tank explodes. I think it was a Renault or something. Those are big over there.

[Newc]

check out the post in Early V8 forums- 'Burned '32 Pickup comes home."8 months of work repairing another burned out Ford. Caused by an overrun of the electric fuel pump, and an extinguisher that went poof. Never going to fix another burned car. Bought at a salvage sale. Newc

[rickeagle]

I put a oil pressure electric fuel pump switch on my 40 Ford to reduce this kind of issue.
Easy upgrade..

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Originally Posted by rickeagle

I put a oil pressure electric fuel pump switch on my 40 Ford to reduce this kind of issue.
Easy upgrade..

Please tell us more about what you did. Thanks

[Fairlane56]

Cool Hand.. those were required by the SCTA Land Speed racing until they mandated the “trunk” style if you had an electric fuel pump. I mounted a tee behind my oil pressure gauge with a #15 1/8” pipe thread pressure sender and put it in series with the fuel pump wiring. As long as there was fuel in the bowls there was no problem starting. We had quite a few do the same thing with the ignition and used a bypass to start.

I just raised the value with the AAA Classic car insurance on our 56/Victoria. Upped it 40% for $60 extra a year..

[KULTULZ]

Below is an ILL of a correct install -