http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/05/earlyshow/main706202.shtml pretty scary stuff--is this a design flaw, or just a freak occurrence?..and if it is a design flaw, does it extend to other models also?
Hi It is a sad event but no design flaw. These are old cars, plenty of information about the need to replace ALL fuel hoses. When I bought my GT4, some hoses had been replaced, others not. They were all replaced the first few months after I bought the car. Now on the rare occasion that I smell fuel I figure out why and where and fix it on the spot. Typical forgotten hoses: 1. Filler hose, difficult to see, difficult to replace so just assume no previous owner did it. 2. cross over pipe hoses, expensive, difficult to check. Mine were very brittle. 3. On US cars, lots of extra hoses for the fuel vapour system. 4. some of the hoses between carbs can sit on the choke wires if not routed carefully. Over time this can abraid the hose and result in fuel settling out. 5. Static can of course ignite any fumes that might be around due to any of a number of causes. 6. The fuel filter housing can leak in several places, esp. if the filter has been replaced without replacing the O ring. Ditto it is important to anneal the copper washer under the central bolt before re-using it. The good news is that no one was injured.
so would you still have to be watchful of the items you listed to prevent a possible explosion on 348/355/360's?..
While I have no personal experience with any version other than the GT4, they are all similar in build. If I were to buy a 348 I would definitely replace the fuel related hoses. Newer cars are probably less at risk, but only due to relative age. Stuff can wear out and harden, sometimes it is based on environment, lack of use, etc.
