Club 80-90 Forums

My 1980 1.9 air cooled t25 caught fire, apparently 3 year old engine dropped a valve? Gutted everything in engine hatch though put fire out quickly so didn't do any other damage.

Insurance said I could buy van back for around £3k but is it worth it. Van chassis really sound, but will it cost too much to rebuild? Also insurance said garage won't repair it as carcinogenic? Advice please, dump or salvage?

Really sorry to hear about the fire. I reckon if you posted some pics I'm sure you'll get some better advice about what to do next. Must say, it's a curious one from the garage about it being carcinogenic?

Thanks for the reply, I shall try and sort some photos before making the decision

If a garage won't repair, that means it's really just worth scrap value which is not 3k, maybe 1k max.
If they agree then buy it back and find some back street garage who will fix it.

Some larger insurance approved bodyshops wouldn't touch it due to it's age and the headache it would be to them, the carsnagenic line is a get out claus.

It's really up to you, what you think it's worth and the offset payment that they offer as settlement, against the cost of repair, just about everyone who owns a t25 there is an emotional attachment, but not everyone in the chain of events has the emotional investment you have in the van.

If they offered you to buy van back for 3k, may I be cheeky and ask what full settlement is?

Here are some photos - difficult to see much as covered in fire extinguisher!

Fire damage to engine

Not as bad as I thought

Do you think it's worth keeping then?

That doesn't look too bad at all. Do you have any pics of the rest of the van?

You need to remember that it is your van, it does not belong to the insurance company !
A engine fire shouldn't mean a total loss.
All the parts are getable , there are breakers on here , there are Aircooled engines for sale alll the time online

If the fire didn't damage the body shell then it's just a engineless van !

Thank you sooo much, I feel much more positive and I think I will keep him as I can't bear to let him go. I just love my bus and felt so upset when they said to get rid. Laura

What area are you in?
Maybe a local member could drop past and cast their eye on it for you ?

It looks easily repairable, but don't go touching any burnt rubber bits without gloves on, the garage was right there are risks, small but don't take chances.

Thanks for advice. I'm in Aylesbury buckinghamshire

Can you put any better pictures up so we can actually see the damage. It just looks like a pop back through the carb fire not helped by having pancake air filters. How do know it dropped a valve?