Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2004 08:34:40 -0500
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: discontinued cooling hoses
In-Reply-To: <Pine.SOL.4.58.0403090705370.26088@millipede.gpcc.itd.umich.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
As Ron said the 82 diesel hoses are discontinued. However we can still
get the 83-84 Diesel hoses pretty easily. You have to change your
coolant expansion tank in order to retrofit these hoses but it is better
than not being able to get anything.
As for the 1.9l Vanagon the early 83.5 engine bay hoses have been
discontinued long ago (if you have this type of Vanagon you will have
two really long and preformed hoses in the engine bay). However you can
retrofit to the later 83.5-85 hoses. There is one main hose of the
83.5-85 hoses that has been discontinued and if you go to my coolant
hose chart for the 1.9l you will see it. I have found a replacement
that will work in place of it. So far the 1.9l hoses for the later 85
Vanagons with long plastic coolant pipes are all still available along
with the 2.1l Vanagon hoses and syncro hoses. However as Ron said don't
expect this to last forever. If you need to replace your hoses do it
now. In another 5 years (or sooner) I expect the 2.1l hoses to be in
the same boat as the diesels are now.
Now we will hear from all the folks that will encourage you to not
replace your hoses because Ron and I are just trying to make dirty money
(ugh I hate even saying that dirty word;-). Of course these folks will
be the first to cry when they can no longer get the hoses that they put
off getting and advised you to do the same. If you are smart you will
see that yes we are making money, but at the same time we are providing
a service to you. I'll give you a newsflash, Vanagon coolant hoses
don't have a very large profit margin when compared to other parts.
That is why most vendors don't stock them. I do because when one of you
folks is broken down in Nowhere, ND I want to be able to say, "Yes I
have that hose and it is on the way via UPS overnight." Thankfully I
have been able to do this many times, but just think how much pleasanter
that trip would have been if the guy had called me just a month earlier
and spent the overnight charges on some extra coolant hoses.
Just my opinion.
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Jonathan Farrugia wrote:
>i remember seeing posts in the past about various discontinued cooling
>system hoses. the vanagon diesel hoses stick in my mind but i am not sure
>which hoses are no longer available. also i would be interested to know
>if anyone knows of any other vanagon or volkswagen hoses that are no
>longer available.
>
>jonathan
>
>
>
