Yes, I can see the combination of ether and spark
being a real blast. I'm glad you were not injured.
Sorry to hear there was a lot of damage to the car.


..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

On 9/15/2013 8:04 PM, micky wrote:

I did something like that with my brother's car.

It wouldn't start, parked face first in a garage, going to be hard to
jump the battery so I was trying to same battery time. Sprayed ether
in the carb to help it start at the same time I used a jumper wire to
crank the engine, with a spark plug wire off and a screwdriver in the
connector to see if there was a spark.

The thing exploded in my face. But I didn't move a bit. Good thing
or I would have driven the edge of the hood into the back my neck. Or
banged my head on the inside of the hood. No injuries, no burns.

I was fine but the valve cover near me had lifted up from the head in
5 or 6 places, between bolts. A couple of the bolt holes in the
valve cover were ripped open.

Maybe I should have tried the Ford dealer. Or I did and they had to
order it. Ordering parts too much longer in those days (1973) and I
couldn't tell my brother that his car wasn't ready. All I tried were
auto-parts stores and they didn't sell original-quality valve covers.
In NYC auto junk yards are far away, I think. I didn't know of any,
still don't.

So I bought a pair of chrome valve covers, and only put on one of
them. I'm glad my brother is an understanding guy. Especially since
I didn't get his car started for him iirc.