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Subject:Re: metal engine acess lids/ vanagon engine fires
From:midworld midworld
Date:Thu, 12 Mar 1998 22:58:52 PST

Just to let you know a metal access lid will not help much on saving
your van if it catchers on fire, believe me I know.  I had a '78 van
that had a metal lid that did the China syndrome in about 15 minutes by
the time I knew what was happing it was to late all the fire dept. could
do was pump water on the cars parked next to it ('97 MB and a generic
rental car) so they would not burn. The only stuff I could salvage was
what was in the front and my cast iron cook ware it was all a real drag.
But if it gains you a minute or two then it might be worth it just
thought you might want to know.

Cecil
Frodo lives!!!

>yesterday, i saw another burned late model vanagon. an '88. it had an
engine
>fire, and was burned to a crisp.. nothing left.. even the square
headlites
>were melted..
>i had thought before about getting a metal engine acess lid from a
aircooled
>van, and dismissed the idea, cuz they were too heavy..
>well, now i've changed my mind...
>the fire entered the van thru the plastic acess lid, quickly...it just
melted
>right thru it.  if the lid had been metal, there might have been some
time to
>save the van.
>anyway, i'm gonna go with the metal one just to be safe..
>
>chris
>

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