Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 05:57:57 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Coolant line complications - early vs. late Vanagons.
In-Reply-To: <33a6704a0604242241y768cd27ay7263459464b62f53@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The later coolant system is much more tolerant of air and is almost self
bleeding. If looking at automatics, the later system works a lot better.
The difference in price will easily be made back at resale time. The
later van also gets a better exhaust, the oil cooler, larger front
brakes, etc. Whatever you are paying, keep in mind that there is some
reason these vans are for sale and the purchase price is sort of a down
payment for ownership. Either plan to get dirty or bring money. Even the
'87 is going on 20 years. Be realistic. If it hasn't been replaced or
serviced in the last 5 years, you will get to replace it within the next
5 or sooner.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Ian Cooley
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 1:42 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Coolant line complications - early vs. late vanagons.
So, I find myself in a bit of a pickle. I'm currently looking at what
appears to be two veery well maintained vanagons, one '84 and the other
an
'87. By going for the '84, I would be saving myself about $2000. The
only
thing staying my hand, however, is an impression I've been given of the
earlier models.
From what I have been told, these vans (the '81-'85, I believe...those
w/ a
1.9L?) are consistently plagued by problems with the lines running
coolant
or water from the radiator in the front to the engine in back. These
lines,
if I understand it correctly, are prone to cracks and leaks. On the
other
hand, a friend assures me this problem is easily solved by simply
protecting
these lines...i.e., insulating them in foam or sheathing them in metal,
etc. If anybody has any information concerning this problem
specifically,
or any other advantage of the later models over the earlier for that
matter
(or, conversely, shortcomings of the earlier over the later), please
feel
free to pmail me at ianrcooley@gmail.com . This car has to make it as
many
as 30,000 miles, so such issues are of grave concern to me and any help
is
greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
--
Scientists warn that traveling through space-time by means of a cosmic
wormhole may be extremely dangerous.
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