I remember reading a while ago that someone had replaced his
plastic/fibreglass engine cover with a metal one and his van still
burned...  I then stopped looking for a metal one for mine.  I now just
inspect my fuel line frequently, and my firewall gas fitting is a metal
one.

Pascal
'84 Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of John Bange
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 2:28 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Engine cover, History

> But more importantly, metal is better at keeping engine
> fires out of the place where you sleep.

Heh. I reckon that the window of opportunity for saving your van is
pretty narrow either way. Plastic & fiberglass that isolates the fire
until it melts and collapses, or steel plate that immediately conducts
that heat straight through to the flammable bed cushion.... sounds
kinda like a draw

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Lastwagen"
'90 Vanagon GL - "Wiesel"