Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:38:33 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Help in northern Ontario...
In-Reply-To: <46AAB1C6.2070608@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Right on.
The only 'odd thing' I've seen on 85's, or left over from the previous year,
is metal pipes on the earlier 85's. Had to use those up before switching
over to plastic, either that or the plastic ones weren't ready yet at the
start of 85 production.
True, the spindle diameter is larger for the outer bearings on the improved
spindle.
This is first I've heard that it changed mid-year on 84's. I don't doubt
that it did, and never had to worry about it.
It's not that the spindle is weak, that I'm aware of. It's that the earlier
outer wheel bearings don't last as long with the 'common normal total
neglect" that front wheel bearings ( amazingly ) live with so well. My first
vanagon, an 82 DV GL , had outer front wheel bearings worn out on it when I
got it, so I was made aware of this issue, and noticed different front wheel
bearings on later ones, an 85 being one of the parts vans I got along about
then.
If outside diameter is the same, but inside diameter is smaller, you'd think
the rollers would be smaller. Smaller rollers equal slower turning
rollers......seems to me. And might help make them last better. These
days....vanagon 2WD front wheel bearings....I never see any bad ones, ever.
I also haven't had to think about an early type front outer wheel bearings
in too long to remember, so no big deal.
True, no PS available on 83's ....or 83.5's if you want to call the first
waterboxer - an 83 and a half model.
I retrofitted 85 PS and front suspension to an 83 Adventurewagon.
What a job ! I even had to grind little cutouts it the frame below the
filler neck, little notches that the PS pipes pass through to clear the gas
tank.
Thought I could maybe get away with just lowering the gas tank some, but
before it was all over, I had to remove it completely.
83 1.9 waterboxer heads have the boss for where the PS pump bracket goes,
but there are no threaded holes in them, but it's not too hard to drill and
tap them for the PS pump bracket, even in situ.
I'm pretty sure PS was optional equipment in 84.
Standard on all, for 86 and up of course.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mark Drillock
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 8:03 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Help in northern Ontario...
The flat machined area of the spindle arm where the tie rod bolts on is
very elongated. Then the hole is drilled in that area in one of two
locations, depending on manual or power steering.
The improvements you mentioned for 85 are not true of early 85 models.
All were phased in during production at different points, except for the
newer sliding door which was used for the full year. The outer front
wheel bearing changed during the 84 model year, on chassis number
023,828 of that year. I think the bearing inner diameter was enlarged to
allow for a larger diameter spindle so there may have been some strength
issue with the earlier spindles. Perhaps PS entered into that since PS
was offered beginning with some 84 models, afaik.
Mark
Scott Daniel - Shazam wrote:
> Hmmm....really ?
> I'll have to check that out.
> I don't doubt you, just never had to think about it.
>
> On the spindles.....I'm pretty sure, since I noticed that 82 front outer
> bearings are underbuilt, that they fixed that with 85 models, one year
> before 86.
>
> Yes, the single piston calipers started in 86,
> But the cast iron lower control arm and better outside wheel bearings
> started in 85. I believe.
>
> Really.....they did a lot of really good improvements in 85, - the
sliding
> door,
> Cast iron lower control arms, plastic cooling main pipes, better parking
> brake....
> Then they held back 3 big improvements until 86....
> The headlights, the different or better front brakes , and the fuse box.
> And probably others I'm not remembering now.
>
> It's like 86 completes what 85 started.
>
> It would be fun to have a 'when did various changes occur in vanagons'
> contest.
> Like what year did the heater valve move from inside the cockpit to under
> the front floor ?
> For example.
> Lots of fun possibilities and trivia, but useful technical trivia.
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
>
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