In a message dated 3/30/05 9:07:00 PM Eastern Standard Time,
pascal.giasson@GNB.CA writes:

> I remember one of the list member's Vanagon burning last fall, and she had
> installed a metal engine lid.  She said the flames went up the vents and
> the metal engine lid did not seem to give any additional protection.  From
> the pictures of this recent fire looks like the fiberglass lid was not an
> issue.  I was originally on the look out for a metal engine lid but seems
> like no real advantage in terms of fire containement.  Anyone have any
> experience to the contrary?
>
>

lets see.  plastic melts.  metal doesnt.   draw your own conclusion.

metal lids buy you some time in the event of an engine fire. they buy you
some time so you can take a fire extinguisher and try to save your van before its
gets out of control.   if you sit there on your bum on the side of the road
waiting for the fire dept. and watch your van burn and dont do anything to try
to put the fire out, its not going to matter weather your engine lid is metal
or plastic because it will be all gone by the time they get there anyway...

chris