Fire!

[Tom <myttom@flash.net>]

This story isn't really about a VW but I thought I would tell it anyway:

Recently I purchased a 1950 Iternational pickup.  (I need something to
tow the vw projects I am going to buy when my wife wins the lottery (: )
I have spent the last 3 weeks rebuilding the engine and correcting a
host of problems in an attempt to make the truck roadworthy.  Last night
I went out for the first drive beyond my block to show my new toy off. 
All was going smoothly,  I was remembering how to double-clutch(no
synchros), and the truck was running great when all of the sudden arose
such a clatter I woke from my daze to see what was the matter!  The
engine was sputtering and stalled, I could see flames through the holes
where the pedals go through the firewall.  Since this was the first time
I rebuilt an engine without my dads help I assumed I had ruined the
engine.  Sadly I got out of my truck and opened the hood half expecting
to be lit on fire or blown up.  Turns out that the clamp that holds the
oil-bath air filter on broke.  The filter fell right on to the battery
and shorted out the enire electrical system.  It also caught fire,
somehow the flames didn't look so bad from the front of the truck.  And
to think I used to complain about the battery being under the seat in
vw's!  Anyway, a kind soul in a new Jetta helped me push the truck to
the side of the road(believe me its a whole lot heavier than my
squareback) and gave me a ride home.  It was my first ever ride in a
water cooled Volks, So quite and smooth it was erie.  I got some fuses,
wire, and a new roll of electrical tape and walked back to my truck. 
>From there... well lets just say the truck is in my driveway and I  am
trying to figure out how I am going to get a clamp for the filter!
Tom
68 Squareback (the good one that has not caught fire)
& a host of other projects I can't afford.