Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 22:15:13 -0500
Reply-To: Rich Propsom <Rich@PROPSOM.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rich Propsom <Rich@PROPSOM.NET>
Subject: Water Cooled Alternative Water Hoses
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For those who have water cooled engines and are interested in alternative
and less expensive solutions to the long metal rubber or plastic lines that
run from your engine to the radiator, here is one possible solution.
For the record Bed Bug is an 82 diesel full camper converted with a base
inline 1.8L golf engine. I won't go into all that has been done but the
most recent was the replacement of all major water/heater hoses. After 19
years I did not trust the old rubber and steel sections. After some
searching and looking at what was available through vendors and flaps I
came across the following in a larger chain "farm / fleet" type store.
Thermoid Valueflex/GS 1.25 (31.8mm) which is a air/water general purpose
hose rated at 150 psi working pressure 300# burst. ( see
www.hbdthermoid.com) The original coming out was roughly the same size and
had 1 reinforcement. This industrial hose of EPDM rubber had two belts and
the rubber wall was nearly twice as thick and was prices at about 1.50 a
foot quite a bit cheaper that the 3 or more dollars quoted at some local
FLAPS. The only drawback was that it came on 50 foot rolls so some would
be left over.
In the process I also upgraded the heater hose from 3/4 inch to 1 inch to
decrease resistance and hopefully increase heater output for winters up here.
So far the only compromise in this setup is that the original radiator and
heater hose had gone through the small hole above the gas tank on the right
hand side. The larger diameter of the replacements did not allow all four
lines to go the same route. I installed one large and one small through
the original holes and the second large and small through the unused syncro
shaft hole on centerline (2wds only). There is minimal interference on the
forward end though you do have to tie wrap it so that it clears the
steering box gear.
Time will tell if its a good choice but price and heft of the hose leads me
to believe this will outlive the original. It is stiffer than original but
still workable and continuous except for connections up forward and in the
rear. I did save the metal riser coming from the top of the radiator down
to the 90 degree where it turns aft. This had a shape that could not be
duplicated with hose. With a burst pressure 20 times your normal 15 psi
water pressure, I do not expect leaks to be any concern for a long time.
82 X Diesel Westy "Bed Bug"
Rich Propsom