Help - Big Spark in the Engine Compartment

[fiasco]

Tried to change out the carb today, unsuccessfully. Had two issues and this is the second, and more immediate one.

I put my old carb back in, and then started it up. I was keeping the throttle open by hand under the hood while adjusting the mix screw and idle screw. As I was doing so, the hose that comes out of the crankcase was spraying blow-by onto my hand so I moved it a couple of inches to the side. When I moved this hose it touched something up under the engine and made a BIG spark. I wasn't sure what happened at first, so I jiggled it around again, and again got a big spark from somewhere down by the bottom of the engine. With all the fuel hanging around from having the carb in and out I was concerned about a fire, so I disconnected the battery, put everything away and came here.



Can anybody suggest what the deal might be?

-- se

[So Cal Mark]

the battery post on the starter is just under the manifold and the breather hose almost lays against it. The cables may be loose or a loose hose clamp on the breather hose could be touching something metal. You can get a pretty clear view from under the car. Look up from just in front of the right tire, up over the motor mount and you can see the front of the starter and solenoid

[racydave]

Evidently you have some bare wires to your starter or alternator. And what luck you found it now, instead of having sone serious problems on the road. I hope you have a warm place to work. This harness actually comes from above, so if you document the wires, and remove them, you can bring them up for acess and repairs.

[fiasco]

Thanks. Got it up on stands, and got under the car. Found my missing hose clamp and fixed the sparking problem.

- se

[TulsaSpider]

See now that was a nice fix eh? Not stuck on the freeway somewhere with blown fuses and melted wires!! Stuff like that will scare the bejeesus out of you though won't it!! I dropped a wrench down on mine once pow! and my heart sank but no damage was done!

[fiasco]

Yeah - freaked me out a little because I had dribbled gas all over everything when I took the carb out. I was just waiting for it all to catch fire!