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Date:         Sat, 8 Dec 2007 11:33:26 -0800
Reply-To:     Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: converting an 81 AC Vanagon to water cooled
Comments: To: neil N <musomuso@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <c4e7c5f90712081129j191fd80du8c3ae6da94d2bf6f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Yeah, but its not IN yet............

On Dec 8, 2007 11:29 AM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> What the top mount bracket? > It's already out: > > *http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/partsyouneed * > > (it looks worse than it actually is --- :^) > > Neil. > > > On 12/8/07, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Hey, you haven't installed it yet - there's still time! :) > > > > On Dec 8, 2007 11:12 AM, neil N < musomuso@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > thanks guys. > > > Amongst other things, I have harvested the lower rad mounts/clip-nuts, > > > the > > > two rubber hoses between long coolant pipes and rad, fan, top mount > > > bracket > > > and radiator (with plastic tanks) from a 1985 Vanagon "Transporter". > > > > > > I will be installing a new rad, even though the old one didn't appear > > > to > > > leak. > > > > > > In hindsight (as I earlier wrote) it would have been easier to measure > > > up > > > the 85 top bracket and make something out of angle "iron" or other > > > material. > > > > > > Next time...... ;^) > > > > > > > > > Neil. > > > > > > On 12/8/07, Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > To expound further on Mark's clarification, > > > > if you are converting an air-cooled , ideally you > > > > need a Diesel Vanagon radiator. These are rare. > > > > > > > > You also need the Diesel Vanagon radiator-to-hose > > > > metal "shepherds crook" coolant pipe, that > > > > connects the upper radiator outlet to the > > > > underbody coolant pipe. > > > > > > > > Since my Vanagon is a Diesel , I can only use a > > > > Diesel Vanagon radiator, unless I want to start > > > > chiseling. > > > > > > > > I have a spare Diesel radiator, but will not part > > > > with it because it is my spare. > > > > > > > > Some are using the bigger WBX radiator with the > > > > 450 watt fan and larger diameter plastic or > > > > stainless coolant pipes. > > > > > > > > These may be needed if you are in a hot climate > > > > or plan to install a higher hp engine. > > > > > > > > For our climate in the PNW, I have never needed > > > > anything more, overheating has not been a > > > > problem. > > > > My engine is a '95 Jetta or Golf 2.0 . > > > > > > > > Robert > > > > > > > > 1982 Westfalia > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote: > > > > > > > > > The radiator top mount method changed > > > > > drastically in 1983 when the > > > > > radiator and fan shroud changed. The 83+ top > > > > > bracket can be removed from > > > > > a donor with enough effort but why bother? It > > > > > is simple enough to make > > > > > top brackets to do that job and allow the > > > > > needed support for the upper > > > > > pegs of the later radiator. The 82 and older > > > > > radiator used thread in > > > > > rubber mounts on brackets top and bottom. These > > > > > older brackets and > > > > > rubber mounts don't work with the 83+ > > > > > radiators. > > > > > > > > > > Every time I post about this I get a pmail or 2 > > > > > reminding me that > > > > > watercooled started in 83.5. False of course, > > > > > since VW started building > > > > > diesel engine models in late 81 and these are > > > > > watercooled. > > > > > > > > > > Mark > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > neil N wrote: > > > > > > 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 > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > > > > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > > > > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. > > > > http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - > > > "Jaco" (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil > > > > > > Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Jake > > 1984 Vanagon GL > > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie" > > Crescent Beach, BC > > www.crescentbeachguitar.com > > http://subyjake.googlepages.com/ > > > > > -- > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - > "Jaco" (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil > > Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ >

-- Jake 1984 Vanagon GL 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie" Crescent Beach, BC www.crescentbeachguitar.com http://subyjake.googlepages.com/


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