I find this whole engine fire thread/ metal vs plastic thing hilarious.  If
there are those of you out there that have this engine fire phobia, replace
your fuel lines....that is what causes an engine fire.  Fuel, or fuel vapor.
Not your selection of engine cover.  The "safety concern" is a joke, period.

I find the metal lids ridiculously heavy, and if your engine compartment
seal is not up to snuff, resonate vibration through the car.  The plastic
( a heavy molded plastic at that) does not have these properties, and is
well insulated.

I, too, have seen the plastic covers 84-up, the Metal ones 83 down.

Adam P
81 westy (3 of them)
74 beetle
73 Transporter (at paint shop!)
70 Single Cab  "Whitey"
Vanagon Partsmobiles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dart 330" <dart330@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2001 11:53 PM
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Metal engine lids - what year?]

> My plastic one is white, are the metal ones painted white? I would be
> interested in purchasing a metal one for fire safety/less noise. What was
> Chris' email address?
>
> >Why would you want to have a plastic engine compartment lid?
> >Weight savings? Manufacturing cost? Sounds like a dumb idea. I say buy >a
> >metal one from Chris...
> >
> >AB
>
>
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