We decided to run the engine in the 1967 Mustang today to test the brakes, adjust the idle, and break in the radiator. After we were finished with the idle and the brakes we were waiting for the radiator to finish spitting up the air pockets. All the sudden, white smoke billows out of the rear, driver's side of the engine compartment and not a second later, catches on fire! A fire extinguisher was used to put out the flame, but the fire was across about a quarter of the engine!

 

Obviously, we were confused and a little scared as to what went wrong. Well, we installed a hydroboost brake system into the mustang. As it turns out, the rubber pressure fitting that we put on the back of the power steering pump to convert it to a braided line melted from the heat of the headers. It slipped off and all the power steering fluid shot backward, also drenching the header, thus, catching on fire. Since all the fluid left the system, we have a sneaking suspicion the power steering pump ground up and seized. The pump or the belt was making a whining noise during operation. When we put it back together, we are going to reroute the hoses away from the header and we may need to buy another pump, maybe a borgeson, unless anyone has any other suggestions. Thankfully, nobody got hurt, the car is safe, and it wasn't a power steering box seal!