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Date:         Sun, 6 Nov 2005 12:46:55 -0800
Reply-To:     Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Evan Mac Donald <macdonald1987@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: changing thermostat on 1.9l
Comments: To: Wesley Pegden <wes@cs.uchicago.edu>
In-Reply-To:  <436E6116.3040608@cs.uchicago.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Well, the best suggestion, and the one I did when MY thermostat housing bolts decided not to co-operate, was to get them both off, and work on the stubs that are left. A trick to try after gaining access to them is to squirt them with penetrating oil (I also prefer PB Blaster!) and then put a set of vise grips on them, and GENTLY lean on the bolt in both directions - Tighten AND loosen. Not too far, just to work the threads, and to work oil into the rusty parts of the threads. Once the bolt breaks loose, then keep oiling and working. Two turns out, then half a turn back, that kind of thing. It helps to keep oil on the freshly exposed turns of thread. Treat it as though you are tapping out a hole for the first time, and are needing to clear chips (which you are, effectively) and want to keep the tool lubed (which you do). I ended up with having to remove the housing from the block, and get out a bolt that broke off in the block. LOTS O FUN, you can imagine! Anti sieze went on every bolt at re-assembly. Steel bolts into aluminum, surrounded by water - who's bright idea was that, anyway?

Wesley Pegden <wes@cs.uchicago.edu> wrote:Thanks for the response. That was my plan, but I hit a big problem... the head of one of the bolts on the thermostat twisted right off. What good options do I have in this situation?

Thanks, Wes

Evan Mac Donald wrote:

> I try to plug the hoses. I generally do not clamp hoses off. I do not > do this because I do not like the idea of possibly damaging the hose > by pinching it off like that. The stresses at the edges of the pinch, > where it folds over, worry me. I am afraid of a failure that a weak > point caused by broken fabric in the hoses at these bend points might > cause. SO, no stress on the hoses. I just catch the coolant, and live > with the losses, and rebleeding. That is my choice for hose damage > possibilities. > > */Wesley Pegden /* wrote: > > Thanks for the tip. When you did this, which hoses did you clamp off? > > -Wes > > Evan Mac Donald wrote: > > >AND don't forget to get the back of the van up onto a set of > ramps. That will help with coolant loss and with (slightly) better > access to the area. A large sheet of cardboard to go under your > backside is also a big help - it can keep you out of the coolant > puddle! Old carpet is good, too. > > > >John Lauterbach wrote:Wes, I don't have a Bentley in front of me, > but as I remember doing this the > >last time, you get at it from underneath. I don't remember if I > took off > >the oil filter first, but there is not much room to work. Make > sure you > >have safety goggles on to protect your eyes from coolant. Do the > job when > >the engine is cold and you have plenty of work lights to see what > you are > >doing. > > > >Also, make sure you note down the order orientation of parts and the > >thermostat so you don't wind up with things put back wrong. > > > >John > >'84 7-passenger > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Wesley Pegden" > >To: > >Sent: Saturday, November 05, 2005 5:40 PM > >Subject: changing thermostat on 1.9l > > > > > > > > > >>So, I set aside this weekend to replace the thermostat on my 1.9l > >>(manual) vanagon. I just looked at the housing today, and I'm > not sure > >>how to get to it. What tips do people have that have done this > job? I > >>was really hoping to do it without loosing all my coolant. Is this > >>possible? > >> > >>-Wes > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > >Evan Mac Donald > > > >1984 Wolfburg > >1985 GL 7 Pass. > >1991 Carat Weekender > >1972 Chevy P/U > >1993 Bonneville > > > > > > >


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