Date:         Wed, 27 Oct 2004 11:25:17 -0600
Reply-To:     jimt <wetwesty@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jimt <wetwesty@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: engineering nightmares vehicles was: cruise control
              speedometer sensor
Comments: To: Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@HEWITT.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <OFB6011F94.0953DA92-ON85256F3A.00589CE4-85256F3A.00594A3B@hewitt.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

On 10/27/04 10:15 AM, "Doug Alcock" <doug.alcock@HEWITT.COM> wrote:

>>>> The WBX *IS* an engineering nightmare. The cooling system
>>>> alone is probably one of the worst automotive designs on the
>>>> planet.If the WBX is "VW type engineering" then you can have
>>>> it and I hope I never see it again.
> 
> I've been ignoring most of this thread --- but the above comment got me
> curious. I have an I-4 conversion that was done for me by my mechanic ---
> who has the same conversion in his 84 Westy --- mine was the eighth he'd
> done for customers who saw his. He uses the diesel bell-housing and all VW
> parts. I am very happy with my engine --- and have no opinions whatsoever
> about it being better than something else. But at the end of the day ---
> I've still got the rad up front, those long coolant pipes (that rotted out
> 1500km from home) and the need to bleed my coolant system and all that
> esoteric stuff. Does the Subie conversion change this? Or are the original
> rad/coolant lines still plumbed into the Subaru engine?
> 
> Cheers,
> Doug
> 

What I consider a major weak spot in the cooling systems for vanagon is the
lines to the front.  On my subie mod I was going down the highway at a good
clip and hit some scrap metal.  It riccocheted all over under the van
destroying one tire and putting nasty marks on the under side.  The cuts in
metal were less than an inch from my cooling hoses.  I put the westy
underside pan back on as soon as I saw that damage.  Though I have never
heard of anyone getting their lines punctured in that way I have no intent
of being a first and dumping all coolant in an instant.  Unfortunately with
rear end the way it is on the vanagon there is no real way to put a radiator
into the rear very easily that would function correctly.  If I could figure
out a good method I would probably move mine.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
http://www.westydriver.com