Thread: Is anything reusable after a fire?

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My parents Durango burned to the ground a week ago and it got me thinking about if anything would be reusable. Like engine block, crankshaft, rearend. Stuff like that. Or does everthing get warped, twisted, stressed to the point of not even being rebuildable?

I think the long blocks should be ok . The trans may be ok . Look to see if the seals are burned . The rear end should also be reusable .

Was it in a building or outside? If they burn inside, they're toast, outside they don't usually get that hot. Pull the valve covers, if the gaskets are just charred and the springs are good, the engine didn't get that hot.
One factor is fuel injection. Some fires start with the engine running, and by the time enough stuff burns off to kill the engine and shut down the electric fuel pump, there's enough gas under the hood to screw everything completely. Saw a 302 Mustang do that, the interior wasn't even scorched, but the whole front end melted.

I would check to see the condition of any aluminum parts under the hood. Aluminum melts at 1200 F or thereabouts. That's hot enough to 'mess' with irons and steels as well. If I saw a lot of melted aluminum I would not reuse anything.

Kitz

It was parked outside about 3 ft. from their house, so the garage door got cooked as did some siding, rain gutter, and a porch light but they saved the house. Durango was burned front to back, bottom to top. Dad was mad 'cause he had just filled up the tank a few hours before and the trans. was replaced about 6 months ago. Big money on that one.

what caused the fire if you don't mind me asking?

Insurance investigator checked it out when everybody was at work. Report was filed with insurance company, dad is trying to get a copy for his own curiousity. Nobody knew anything was wrong until one of the tires blew. We'll know as soon as the insurance company faxes a copy of their findings.

I pulled in an old burnt up Durango ,out of the desert, for an insurance company. It had gotten so hot the rear driveshaft split open from the heat. The transfercase had melted away, as did the rims. It would have been mine for the taking, but the valve covers had mealted away too, I figured the block was a boat anchor.