Date:         Fri, 21 Jul 2000 19:22:36 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@aol.com>
Subject:      early 83.5 coolant hose Q?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I seem to have a rare coolant hose set up in my 83.5 Westy with air
conditioning from the water pump to the bottom of the coolant tank and from
the top of the coolant tank where the hose runs from the tank to the black
metal pipe that crosses the engine from side to side. On  the dealer's
microfiche it shows only early 83.5 vanagons had this hose set up (those
before chassis number: DO87511). And it's causing two problems, the first is
the A/C belt rubs on both hoses, the second is the price of two realatively
short replacement hoses is $160+ and neither Bus Depot or Vanagain are able
to get the hoses. I more concerned with the first problem.

The first problem is the top coolant hose has a part number 025 121 130 (NOT:
 025 121 130A which seems more common on the 1.9 waterboxer). It comes off
the top of the coolant tank and goes just over the a/c belt to attach to the
black metal pipe that that runs across the engine from side to side. The
other hose runs from the water pump to the coolant tank just under the fan
belt that runs to the A/c. the upper and lower coolant hose joint each other
through T connections on each joined by a coupling with hose clamps.

my set up is different from the main microfiche at the VW dealer(although
there is an insert showing the set up for my early 83.5 in the microfiche
which matches my set up). It is also different from the illustration in the
Bus Depot catalogue. The difference is the top coolant hose has a T formed
into it as does the bottom hose, and those two link together with an insert
so there are less hoses (no separate T hose etc.) to get from the the water
pump or that black metal pipe to the coolant tank than listed in the Bus
Depot illustration.

I suppose it's best if someone knows this set up, as to try to explain it
would take pages and I still probably wouldn't be able to make it clear.

Here's the questions:

Was there a different hose set up for early 83.5 model WITH a/c? the dealer
says no. But the hoses are dangerously close to that belt which has worn into
both of them.

Could the DPO have swapped the coolant tank which is making the hoses ride
closer to the belt? Or done some other mod?

BTW There would be no problem if there was no a/c belt--but that kind of
defeats the purpose.

Or can I convert to the other (later) hose set up more widely used and will
that solve or lessen the problem of interaction with the a/c belt? Are the
water pump connections and the rest similar so I would just be re routing the
coolant?

Any ideas that have worked or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I have
no real problem spending for the pricey hose since I have to, but if there is
some other a/c friendly hose I should be getting instead I'd rather spend for
that. I did wrap one hose in sheet iron or tin and clamp it with hose clamps
to make a sheild--but the point is the belt is still hitting it and that
can't bet good.

Thanks,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
NYC