Actually, it is a bad design in that normal dust and dirt cause premature
failure.  It has been updated on later cars to a conductive plastic cap.  The
later cap can be retrofitted to any Vanagon.  Make sure the cap you buy is
compatible with your existing wires or upgrade at the same time.  The caps use
either the normal sleeve or a pin.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From:   Vanagon mailing list  On Behalf Of bachmanb@SMTPGW1.PLK.AF.MIL
Sent:   Wednesday, August 27, 1997 2:35 PM
To:     Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU
Subject:        Re: Distributor Cap

     I agree with John.

     It's not a bad design; it's a good one; twice good!

     Think about it!  The grounded shield allegedly helps reduce radio
     interference; it might also reduce interference to that expensive
     thing we call "the Brain".

     And finally, as the original poster found out, it acts as a fail safe
     device, namely if the cap and/or wires/wire connections deteriorate
     enough such that the electricity is able to look for other places to
     go, the grounded shield more-or-less safely conducts it away.  'Course
     performance suffers, but is that the fault of the grounded shield?

     -Blaine