Date:         Fri, 29 Sep 2000 13:07:31 -0400
Reply-To:     Bob O'Shaughnessy <vanagon@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob O'Shaughnessy <vanagon@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Subject:      Re: question on thermostat housing for 1.9 liter--pricey?
Comments: To: Oxroad@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Jeffrey R (Oxroad@aol.com) said on the date of 9/28/00 11:40 PM

     (snip)
>I assume the later Vanagon uses a different housing than the early 1.9
>liters. But anyone who has knowledge of these housings please share your
>advice or even sympathy (i.e. " I just had to buy one and it cost me over
>$200."). My guess is locating a good used housing will be difficult to find
>and will take more time than I have.
>
     (snip)
>
>Mine BTW was all gooped up and glued by the DPO. And while it worked
>OK--meaning it didn't leak--I wouldn't dare reinstall it. In fact one of the
>bolts that holds it to the water pump is fused to the housing with I don't
>know what, but won't budge. The bolt snapped and the shaft is still fused
>into the thermostat housing--although everything is out of the bus right now.
>


     Jeff, you may not need the entire housing.  When I boogered mine up
in the engine rebuild process I tried without success to find another.  I
finally, upon a friend's recommendation, found an alluminum welding shop
and had them drill out the bolt shaft, weld up the hunk of metal they
carved out and tap a new hole.

     It is still in place 30k later.


_________________________________________________________

Bob O'Shaughnessy,         Columbus, OH
vanagon@columbus.rr.com
99 A3 Jetta TDI
85GL with basic Westy interior
74 Bus (Dad's)
72 Wife, 94 Rabbit, 95 Cat, 96 cat, 98 Kid 11/00 Kid!
52 House