Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 09:55:05 -0800
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Friday humour: Top 5 Reasons why you SHOULDN'T try converting
an 81 AC Vanagon to water cooled (pic included)
In-Reply-To: <764149.87802.qm@web33514.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hey Robert.
Thanks. I know you have the nice I4 setup, so I appreciate the info.
I tried drilling out the spot welds but ended up chiseling because there
were 5-7 inaccessible spot welds that were only visible from the top from
inside the van (dash removed) I couldn't get my drill at them because of the
angle.
There is no stock upper mount on my 81 Westy.
I bought it in Canada and am pretty sure this is a Canadian model.
Thanks for direction on the two 10 mm holes for lower grille. I'll keep my
spare parts van long enough to "measure twice" and transfer that to my 81.
As for lower rad mounts, I've harvested the clip-on nuts and L brackets for
the lower mounts.
In hindsight, (and I'll be posting all this on my other website) I think one
alternative for the upper mount is to get some angle "iron" and make the
part. For that matter, one might just make it out of two pieces. It didn't
take too long to get the part out, but one has to drill quite a few holes.
Regardless, several of them will serve as holes for screws to mount the part
to my 81. I'll post rough measurements of the stock one for anyone that
wants to attempt making it.
And to the list:
For the record, I posted all that other stuff in jest. I just thought the
sight of a hacked out upper rad mount bracket would make people laugh and
was good Friday material.
I will finish what I started, and am certain I'll have no regrets! ---:^)
Cheers,
Neil.
--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco" (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
On Dec 7, 2007 9:30 PM, Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I converted a 1980 Westfalia to a water-cooled
> inline -four and I don't understand what all the
> chiseling is about.
>
> The two holes for the two top ten mm bolts are
> already in place- all you need to do is make a
> grille template from a water-cooled Vanagon,
> trace it onto the air-cooled and cut the lower
> radiator grille opening .
>
> The top mounts are there from the factory in the
> air-cooeld models. The bottom has two brackets
> that bolt to the frame and the radiator.
> Assuming that the Canadian model is identical up
> front to the American one..
>
> Robert
>
> 1982 Westfalia
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- Mark Tuovinen <mst@AK.NET> wrote:
>
> > 6. Because your a sadist, not a masochist! (a
> > masochist would try)
> >
> > 7. Just because somethings can be done does
> > not mean that they should!
> >
> > 8. If you have that much spare time available
> > you could use it to find a cure for cancer, the
> > common cold, wars, and global warming!
> >
> > 9. It would be much faster and cheaper to
> > purchase a water cooled van, but where is the
> > fun in that!
> >
> > 10. Because you could save the money by moving
> > to a warmer climate, where you won't need a
> > heater!
> >
> > Mark in AK
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
> > Date: Friday, December 7, 2007 12:31 pm
> > Subject: Friday humour: Top 5 Reasons why you
> > SHOULDN'T try converting an 81 AC Vanagon to
> > water cooled (pic included)
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> > > Well I just couldn't think of ten, so there
> > you go!
> > > 1. Sure. If the ladies or SO don't find you
> > handsome, they'll sure
> > > find you
> > > "handy". But truthfully? They'll think you're
> > nuts!
> > > 2. You're Nuts!
> > >
> > > 3. Sure you'll be proud, but it's twice the
> > work!
> > >
> > > 4. Hey. It's STILL an 81 Vanagon!
> > >
> > > And reason number 5.......
> > >
> > >
> >
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/5UpperRadMount.jpg/5UpperRadMount-
> > > full.jpg
> > >
> > >
> > > "Sure. I'll get that rad mount out. I'll just
> > drill out a few spot
> > > welds and
> > > ...... " --- ;^)
> > >
> > > All done in humour. I WILL be proud of this
> > when it's done. --- :^)
> > >
> > > And FWIW, don't bother drilling out all the
> > spot welds. There's
> > > more than
> > > what you see from underneath. There's like 6+
> > more that are welded
> > > fromabove the inside behind dash.
> > >
> > > If I were to do it again, (cha'! Right!) I'd
> > go at it from inside
> > > (when dash
> > > off) and cut around welds nearest inside of
> > van with the cold
> > > chisel (or
> > > w.h.y.) then push it down and cut around the
> > rest from the
> > > outside. The
> > > metal is soft and a cold chisel will go
> > through it easily. With it
> > > on the
> > > bench, you could remove the extra metal more
> > cleanly.
> > >
> > > This is for removing from an 85 Vanagon.
> > >
> > >
> > > Neil.
> > >
>
