Date:         Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:28:11 -0500
Reply-To:     rrecardo@WEBTV.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Cardo <rrecardo@WEBTV.NET>
Subject:      Re: Favorite Mods
Comments: To: John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>'s message of Sat, 13 Aug 2005
              17:11:49 -0700
Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII

Subject: Re: Favorite Mods


<<Yep, I did the same thing, only instead of feeding the rear heater,
they feed the transmission cooler. I considered just re-routing those
evil 1/2-to-5/8 "bottleneck" hoses to the AT cooler, but I figure the
more bizarre assymetric/non-standard crap I can eliminate from the
system, the easier future repairs will be. Split open that 1/2-to-5/8
hose and guaranteed it'll be a LONG walk to the nearest place that has a
replacement.>>


I used Gates HD truck heater hose.
It was a bitch to get over the gas tank, and through the grommets in the
rear but I WD-40'ed the heck out a them and they eventually slipped
right through everywhere they had to go.
They were even tight to get on the fittings,and T's.
Squirt a shot of the WD on the ends of the hose,and  they slipped right
on, and after the stuff evaporated, they were stuck like glue.

I don't really care for the single wall , junk hose that VW used on
these vehicles.

Check the spongy hose from the distribution block to the thermostat
housing.
It almost lays on top of the bell housing , going across, and it's as
thin as toilet paper.

I can easily see why these Vanagon hoses blow and fail.

They are really cheesy.

Ask George about Cheesy Hoses.

<<Wow! Where'd ya find 'em that cheap? I had the devil of a time finding
suitable 5/8" hose barb tees AT ALL. Ended up paying something like $15
for the ones I did eventually order. Not like it'd break the bank, but
I'd take $1.50 ones if I knew where to look.>>

NAPA had them in a "T" selection drawer.  a buck and a half each.

Oh yea--I love spring clamps.

Yuck, hack, Spittoo, Barf, Blooey !!

I grabbed a Happy Snappy kinda guy before this project, and bought every
spring clamp plier's he had.

It still wasn't enough.

There were some places that only a vice grips could love.

I'm glad this project is all said and done.