Date:         Sun, 2 Sep 2001 21:31:44 -0500
Reply-To:     James Fritz <jfritz@WILLINET.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         James Fritz <jfritz@WILLINET.NET>
Subject:      Fwd: bus fire
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii"

Volks,
Well, the dreaded bus fire hit our town recently.  A friend and former student, Ari C. was driving her 81 Westy on a local blacktop.  She noticed smoke in the rear view mirror.  By the time she could get it stopped there were flames coming from under the rear bumper.  She popped the hatch and splattered water on the engine compartment lid.  It sizzled so she knew it was too late.  At the same time flames started coming out of the closet.  She grabbed her dogs, a few personal items and walked away.  Soon she was running, as the gas tank went up, the propane blew and all 4 tires exploded.  The van was a total loss.  The fire dept. foamed the transmission for nearly 30 minutes.  When they pulled the wreck away there was a large hole melted into the asphalt where the transmission had been.  
She hadn't replaced the gas lines.  Moral of the story: if you haven't replaced your own, do it now.  If you have replaced them (I have but found a leak right over the engine block last week), check them routinely.  Gasoline being pumped at 60 psi onto a hot block/transmission is a BAD THING.

Now a moment of silence for our fallen comrade...........

Jim in Iowa
66 Beetle
89 Westy
91 Passat Wagon GL