Welcome to Twin Peaks

Going to black lodge to get my spares!

Success! Found some useful stuff:

Shiny alternator, old plug wires, complete wiring loom with relays and a used distributor cap. Carbon canister for some reason came with, no idea why it stuck to my hand.

Tried to peek whats going on with the burned alt. It still smells funny.

Not sure anymore what caused the fire, there doesnt seem to be enough oil to sustain anything else than occassional puff of blue smoke. Probably 30-year old alternator just has had it.

I recently got some comments about the crank binding with the ARP studs and nuts. There might be a different cause for the crank getting stuck what I thought and I want to examine it with care, but right now swapping the alternator and checking the wiring and relays have higher priority. I wanted to have the yearly roadworthiness inspection done, but now the car isnt even remotely safe.

Edit: Well, it is mechanically safe but electric parts seem to catch fire randomly 😀

Fire walk with me – again

Aw fuck.

Oil leaked thru distributor axle seal and started a small fire. Car still runs, but its not charging and there seems to be some kind of relay problem. Most likely my alternator, sprayed with oil from above, is the source of the fire.

I have to go and rummage through my spare parts pile to check if I had a second alternator. I do have a spare distributor, but it needs to be welded.

Below: wiring damage to the distributor wires

Rotor and seal below – very oily. Notice – the damage on the distributor cap is not on the exhaust manifold side. The heat shield has been working perfectly.

Oil inside distributor cap – no fire marks inside.

This will definetly buff out

My Ultra plug wires which I got by accident that really are not for 4A-GZE – also toasted 🙁

Easy fix for this would be a bit wider heat shield that would also work as a oil catcher – directing that leaking oil past the alternator and the hot bits.