Date:         Sun, 10 Dec 2000 21:33:57 -0600
Reply-To:     Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Subject:      An interesting idea for block heaters, etc (kinda long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

Hi Volks:

I was speaking to a listee friend yesterday from Iowa, and he suggested a
really neat and original idea - that had been discussed on another list -
the diesel list, I think.

As everyone who has a Vanagon knows - there are no frost plugs to use to put
in a block heater. A block heater is an electric device that heats the
coolant in the water jacket of the engine.

Anyhow - here's the idea:

You know the drain plugs that are in the bottom on each side of the engine?
Insert a block heater in those!

Thing is, I personally don't know the diameter of the hole, and the thread
spec. Kinda need that to make sure the blocker heater will fit.

Also - it may be required to tap out the holes and rethread them, as well.

Therefore, does anybody know the specs of the holes?

It's a start, at least towards protecting our engines here in frigid
Winnipeg.

BTW: It was about -30 C today, with a wind. There was a frostbite warning,
warning that serious frostbite can occur in minutes.

Let's pretend my condo is a time-share. Any US listees further South wanna
swap for a coule of weeks?

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy "Leader of the Pack"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Founding Member of "Vanagons Anonymous"