Date:         Thu, 24 Aug 2000 18:19:58 EDT
Reply-To:     Oxroad@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey R <Oxroad@aol.com>
Subject:      Re: Coolant Hoses
Comments: To: ingalls_mark@hotmail.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Mark--

I have a tip on hoses which is I got mine recently from Ken at Van Again.
Some the dealer was having trouble getting and would take about 10 days. Ken
has most if not all hoses in stock and charges much much less than the
dealer. Other Vanagon specific vendors I checked needed 2 weeks to get the
hoses.

I'm sorry I don't have the answer to your questions about which to replace--I
think Murphy's law would dictate whichever ones you don't replace are the
ones that are about to fail. I replaced all the hoses in the engine
compartment and the two up front that run from the plastic or metal pipes to
the radiator. I still need to replace all the heating related hoses, but
didn't have the time this go round. I did replace the "T"s in the heating
lines that where up behind the right rear tire well. The original Ts were
metal--maybe aluminium?- and one was weeping. I replaced them with the dealer
part which is now plastic and is a slightly wider diameter which actually
fits the existing heater hose better.

All of my experience was with my 1983.5 Westy, BTW.

And I'm guessing you would have a hard time finding hoses at NAPA. While I
didn't go to NAPA my local FLAPS just grinned when I looked for the bus hoses.

Hope this is at least some help.

Good Luck
Jeff
83.5 Westy
currently in Boulder, CO