http://y42.photos.yahoo.com/bc/tjhannink/lst?.dir=/Vanagon&.src=ph&.view=t
A couple of other things, all of the hoses I replaced in the engine compartment were original, and I couldn't find any soft spots or deterioration on any of them. If this new set lasts 14 years and 180,000 miles, I will be happy, though I will probably change them out long before then. The original owner had replaced all the cooling system hoses in front of the firewall at 11 years/125,000 miles because of a hose failure. The thermostat housing itself had deteriorated where it connects to the cylinder head, so that was also replaced (BTW the o-ring is the same size as a large end pushrod tube o-ring of a type 4 motor). I flushed out the heater and radiator loops from the thermostat/coolant distributor connections.
I had jacked up the back of the van about 10" so I could work on it in the garage and still open and close the garage door. I started it up on the stands to check for leaks and had none, so I let it warm up, then added coolant to the tank with the engine speed at 2500 rpm. I test drove it and it didn't overheat so I felt good about it until I read the messages last weekend relating to overheating at highway speeds, knowing I was driving to South Florida early Monday am. So I got it warm, ran it up on a small hill and bled it the Bentley way, but got no air of any kind out of the radiator, only that lovely orange Jell-O looking dexacool..
I installed the 80 degree thermostat and now the temp. gauge needle stays just to the right of the LED when I am in motion and just to the left when I am in stop and go traffic.
Tim Hannink
Winter Park, Florida
Goldibox - 1987 Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia Camper
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/