Most people buy cars and drive them until they break before doing anything
other than basic oil changes.
That is how it works with most older GM and Ford products.
With newer technologies higher fuel pressures, likely rollover accidents
that cause fires its just best to pay particular attention to anything that
could cause a fire.
When I bought my 1976 Porsche it had the original fuel lines and that is the
first thing I replaced.
The lines were so bad they broke up in the removal process.
The PO was truly running on borrowed time.
Many others with VWs can attest to the engine fires being very common
problem.
Engine fires are nothing new and although everybody knows about the
possibilities they just somehow avoid spending that $20.00 for quality fuel
line and installing it.
I had my engine fire, it took two big fire extinguishers to put it out and
afterwards while cleaning all that yellow stinky power off the engine and
waiting for a new Engine Wire Loom to arrive I thought to myself
..................... How many times have I been warned? and was it worth
the risk?
There is a picture of a Porsche wrecking yard and most of the cars that are
there are engine fire victims.
Something to think about when the next Westy comes into your hands.
By the way ........... the fan shroud on the Type IV is magnesium and if you
put water on it after it starts to burn it causes a minor explosion that
pretty much engulfs the whole interior and undercarriage.

Stan Wilder
www.engineceramics.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug in Calif" <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: Vanagon burned to the ground ( long reply)

> Mark,
> Your post brings cringes down my spine as I think about all the work you
> invested. I too have invested (too much) into my syncro westy conversion.
I
> think if I watched it go up in flames I would have a heart attack on the