Hey Pop's Z,
As a fire fighter, what do you think of Steve J's idea of just popping the initial latch to have a gap to spray an extinguisher into? Would that still let in too much oxygen? I have often wondered about that.
Unfortunately, I can attest to just how scary an engine fire is on a 240Z. After I had finished a 7 year restoration on my first '73 Z, I was driving north on Rte. 53 near Lisle, IL, when the car started accelerating on its own. At 65 in a 45 MPH zone, I figured that I couldn't keep going like that, so I reached down and shut it off. By the time I coasted to the side, I had flames coming out of the hood vents (had a '78 hood on it). I popped the initial latch. Me and a couple other drivers emptied 3 extinguisher on it to no avail. It was like peeing on a forest fire. After that I told every one to get back and let it burn. The fire was so intense that it shut down Rte. 53 for an hour. Once the fire department put it out, I was standing behind the car talking to one of the cops. The car was completed toasted all the way up to the back of the doors. From there back it looked perfect. The cop said "It's a shame, it looks like you just bought this car". He couldn't believe it was 13 years old.
I figured out that the center Weber carb stuck wide open and poured gas on the header. To this day, I would not have Webers on one of my cars.
It was a real sick feeling seeing that car go up in flames. But I was so grateful to get out unhurt.
It definitely is not worth getting seriously burned over it. Cars can be replaced.
Marty