Date:         Sat, 2 Apr 2005 07:58:48 -0800
Reply-To:     Gary Bawden <mrarachnid@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Comments:     DomainKeys? See http://antispam.yahoo.com/domainkeys
From:         Gary Bawden <mrarachnid@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Another vanagon burns up (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi,

On a lighter note about burning up vans,  I nearly
burned up my '66 aircooled bus years ago.  I had
replaced the line from the fuel pump to the carburetor
with some cool-looking braided plastic line that I had
been assured was fuel-grade (I have since learned my
lesson about that!).  About 2 weeks later I was
returning from the local welding supply carrying one
full acetylene tank and one full oxygen tank.  Stopped
at a stop sign and the engine died.  Saw smoke coming
out of the engine louvres.  The fuel line had
dissolved, and while I was waiting at the stop sign,
the fuel pump had pumped a large quantity of fuel on
the asphalt, which then caught fire, so there was a
pretty nice blaze going, roasting the engine
compartment, and of course the fuel tank very nearby!
I pushed the van off of the burning puddle, and
sprinted over to a woman who was holding a garden hose
in her front yard, saying, "I really need this!" - -
the hose just barely reached and was able to fog out
the remaining fire.  Thanked the lady, who was still
standing there, then pushed the van down the street to
a place out of traffic.  Someone had already called
the fire department - - while I was pushing at a run,
the fire truck went by with all the guys on the back
and the sirens and lights going.  They went by and
came back a couple of minutes later, after I had
parked the van off the street, and asked if my van had
just caught fire!  The only damage that day was the
ignition wires and, of course, I needed all new fuel
lines.

My fire prevention awareness took a quantum leap
forward that day!

Gary
'82 Diesel (Anna)
'85 l.9  (AnnaBelle Lee)
'85 l.9  (Hector)



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