Without seeing it cant say but often it might be a write off from an
insurance prospective but,  may well be salvagable. Unless the whole thing
is a burnt empty shell. Buy it back from the ins co. Even if you dont want
to save it SOMEONE will.
On Dec 16, 2012 6:51 PM, "Dick Wong" <sailingfc@dslextreme.com> wrote:

> I'm okay.
>
> Early November I bought my first Vanagon.  1987 GL Syncro with a Audi/VW
> 2.5L I5 conversion.
>
> Today I had an engine fire.
>
> Coming to a stop on a freeway off ramp the clutch pedal goes to the floor
> without disengaging.  Step on it again and same results.  Van is lurching
> forward because the clutch won't release.  Hitting the brake slowed it but
> I
> can feel the engine pushing forward. I shut off the ignition to bring it to
> a stop.  I look in my mirrors and see smoke coming from the rear air
> intakes.  I hop out in the middle of the road and run to the back hoping it
> might only be steam.  No luck, it's stinky smoke and starting to turn
> black.
> I get my cell phone and dial 911.  I stand there and watch flames starting
> to come from the bottom of the engine.  More black smoke.  I think to
> myself, I am going to watch my "new" Syncro burn to the ground.  All of a
> sudden there is a loud hiss and the smoke turns to white steam and water is
> streaming from the engine.  The coolant tank melted and sprayed coolant on
> to the fire and put it out.  Shortly after an highway patrol pull up.  A
> few
> minutes later the fire truck arrives.
>
> Not a nice day.
>
> My theory is:  Clutch hose or the slave had a catastrophic failure and when
> I stepped on the clutch, the brake fluid sprayed out on to the exhaust
> piping (exhaust runs forward on the driver side).  The fluid flashed and
> started burning.
>
> It's sitting in my driveway now.  I'll start looking at the damages another
> day.  I'm too depressed to do anything now.  Fireman said that it might be
> a
> total loss.
>
> -Dick Wong-
> 78 Scirocco
> Original Owner
> 87 Syncro 2.5
> Third Owner
> 12 Golf TDI
> Original Co-Owner
>