Gnarl may be referring to " high density fiberglass" as either a part that
was vaccum bagged or pressure molded.  Spozed to make the fiber to resin
ratio ideal for optimum strength.  Don't know about a fuel-induced fire's
effect on fiberglass, but I once caught the nose of a very expensive Olympic
slalom kayak on fire by mixing too hot a batch of resin to get the endpour
for the bow to set up quickly.  Exothermic reaction I was told.  The bigger
the mass of catalyzed resin(epoxy or polyester/vinylester), the hotter it's
gonna get.  That was an expensive lesson for me.

The again, the refferal may have been to using a real dense fiberglass
cloth(like military S-glass) as opposed to woven roving like you'd see a
cheap ass canoe mad out of.  Just can't believe that VW put that much
thought into the engine lid.  My thought is they were tryig to save money
and maybe weight. The glass VW bumpers are made from  the cheapest of
fiberglass mat.  It's no wonderthey damage so easily.

DM&FS
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terry Kay" <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2001 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: The lid is *NOT* Plastic!

> Ms. Gnarl,
>
> Could you please "splain" the difference between high desity fiberglass,
> cloth or resin, and low density.
>
> I've been repairing this stuff for a long time and have never run into
> any variations of the material.-----
>
> Oh, and just to set the record straight, regardless of which one or the
> other it is, fiberglass cloth, matting or resin, even dryed, is highly
> flamabale, or let me put it this way-----if your van is on fire, grab
> the dog, grab the kids, grab the beer, and get the hell out of there !!
>
> Why did you even try to slip this one past me?
>
> Later
>
> Terry
>
>
> E-mail message From Ms. Gnarl,
>
> I thought my post last night adquately described the lid as High Density
> Fiberglass and NOT flammable.
> Why are you guys even discussnig this?