This argument is absolutely goofy.  Instead of worrying about the
possibility of an engine fire, why not just replace the fuel lines every few
years and be done with it?

That would be getting to the root cause...........if you have a metal lid
over the engine and there is a fire, guess what.  Your vehicle is going to
the junkyard the same as if you had a plastic one, no difference.
Preventative maintenance will avoid this.

Adam P
Charleston,SC     Coburn, WV
81  Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "P. Stanhope" <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2004 1:06 PM
Subject: [VANAGON] Metal V.S Plastic engine lids

> Ive read somewhere that In the event of an engine fire
> the plastic lids have a tendancy to instantly melt and
> collapse into the engine bay. Has anyone out there
> unfortunately had this happen to thier van?
> And, in the event of an engine fire, can anyone guess
> how long does it takes before the fire burns through
> the lid and engulfs the interior? Ive seen a few pics
> of burned vanagons but its always a mystery what
> happened. Does the metal lid allow more time to remove
> and spray engine down with fire repellant? Could metal
> lids ad more danger to the person removing the lid in
> order to spray engine down with fire repellant?
>
> Thanks,
>
> 84' Westy Tiico
>
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