In an empty van or bus the steel lid will definitely be better...
even if the paint burns, it won't rapidly touch-off the whole van. -- Andrew
Grebneff
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One of our list members had a fire while his wife was driving his 82 Air
Cooled Sun Roof Vanagon.
The magnesium fan shroud caught fire and the local fire dept gave it a few
shots of pure oxygen with a side of O2.
I bought the transmission and it was still OK but the engine case had oil
galleries that were weeping from heat, the oil cooler and mount had about
melted off. The rear engine yoke had totally liquefied leaving just the
bolts.
I couldn't save the heads because some of the fins were welded with other
trash.
Lots of luck ever bringing a burned van back from the depths.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com