Date:         Fri, 19 Dec 2003 10:33:30 -0600
Reply-To:     Chris Mills <busbodger@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Mills <busbodger@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Yesterday's Engine Fire in Rockefeller Center NYC
Comments: To: David Brodbeck <gull@gull.us>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.BSF.4.58.0312191109430.37003@gull.us>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

Veeery interesting. Oh, back to the drawing board...

How about a big metal loop (horseshoe) of fuel line that goes up inside the
body some place vertically after the fuel pump (which requires gravity fed
fuel) that keeps the tank from emptying by gravity.... Maybe in one of the
body pillars? Maybe even a way to add a manual fuel valve that can be shut
off in case of fire?

At least maybe a valve on the existing system actuated by an old fashioned
cable like used to be sold for choke control on pickups, old cars, and
tractors? Discover a fire, pull the knob to kill fuel flow to the fuel
pump, pull a second to kill the return loop in the fuel system, flip a
switch to kill the pump, coast to the side of the road, pull third knob to
release engine bay extinguishers... I'm having a vision of a B-17 in combat
conditions over Germany... <grin> Maybe a 4th knob to dump the coolant if
the vehicle is still moving to wash away any spilled fuel... Maybe some
Navy AFFF foam in a tank.... <grin>

Thanks! <grin>

Merry Christmas!

Chris

> > The problem I see with the VW bus (Vanagon too?) is the close proximity of
> > the fuel tank to the engine and the gravity fed fuel system.
>
>Vanagons (except for Syncros) have the fuel tank up front, away from the
>engine and below it.  It doesn't stop them from burning up.