Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 11:21:48 -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
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90712081112u3c2150a7vdb9dc1a0918230fa@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
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?
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> 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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