whole other subject of course..
and typically when there is a 'total' on a Syncro ..  ( this one  may
not be a Westy ...and thus not stratosphere in value )
typically though,   the insurance companies don't think they are worth
as much as they are.

I bet it's fixable ...
even if you have to go back to a stock engine for a while..
or 'some other' engine ....Subaru engine perhaps.

Scott

On 12/16/2012 6:27 PM, Roger Whittaker wrote:
> Dear mobile unit
>
> sad day indeed ... i hope your dream ride is salvageable ... and do not
> worry about what insurance co will do ... it is about what you will do ...
> get some honest vw experts in on the case before the insurance guy so you
> understand if you have something savable
>
> regarding fire puter outer ... try ... http://coldfirecanada.com/
>
> your event is a reminder
> .... almost happening on the third anniversary of the day we did not die (
> our own family passover feast ) :)
> when our T25/T3 California went for a twisty deepsi doodle off the road at
> wamsutter why-owe-ming ...
> the good news is manifold ...
> 1. we both survived with very little to no damage...
> 2. the T25/T3 California did its job and kept us safe in the roll over...
> 3. the Vanagon gerry community was very helpful in both moral and other
> support ...
> 4. Wavey the wonder cat survived some 40 hours out in the cold... waiting
> faithfully for us ... and inturn became an international news reel star for
> the holiday season
> 5. the inlaws gave me a go westy gift cert for christmas and the envelope
> had a sad face on it (i kept the envelope )
> 6. Lucas --at Gowesty  was amazing ... he was very understanding and in
> many ways visiting there a few weeks after was not unlike  a visit to the
> parish priest for grief counseling
> 7. Gifts came in the mail from Vanagon Gerry Community (thanks -- you know
> who you are :) )
> 8. did i mention we did not die ... it was just some metal that got wrecked
> ... some stuff lost ...
> 9. we were not forced into a life of beign wheel chair bound or any other
> form of disability other than what i already had
>
> yes a fire is not nice ... woulda shoulda coulda ...
> what is is more important ...
> good luck with all the stuff you have to deal with along the way and
> remember dick ... nothing is ever what it seems ... it may always be better
> regards
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 16, 2012 at 3:36 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
>>
>
>
> --
> roger w
>   From Proverbs:
> Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a
> servant who becomes king ...
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