Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:10:26 -0800
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: hose replacement-->coolant dist. replacement-->thermostat
housing replacement
In-Reply-To: <20080217022850.26E0E1E829A@tc2.main.nc.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Yes, you need all new o-rings.
You might be able to get allen head 8 mm bolts at a good hardware store or
FLAPS.
If hex ones will fit, I'd use those.
I personally do not think the springy clamps are the way to go.
I put brush-on Teflon paste from the hardware store on all bolts that go
into metal.
Makes them come out beautifully years later.
I use Toyota black sealant on the o-rings too. Great stuff.
( or on the flat o-ring surfaces actually ) .
scott
www.turbovans.com
not a bit of this hokey plastic stuff on subaru engines of course.
And given that they go about 40 % better than a clunky ole push rod 8 valve
waterboxer engine ............it's just so rewarding when you're going 65
and you want to go faster, and something actually happens, and soon, when
you push down on the go pedal.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Edward Maglott
Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 6:28 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: hose replacement-->coolant dist. replacement-->thermostat housing
replacement
I started out replacing a few hoses in the area of the coolant
distributor on my 86 with AT. (some of this is rerun if you followed
my earlier post) First major difficulty was after the hoses were
replaced and engine heated up on the test run. A few drips from the
hose that goes from the coolant dist to the AT cooler. Slid under
there to tighten that screw clamp a little and when I did, the torque
broke the hose nipple off the coolant dist. This gave me the hot
coolant shower and in the haste of getting my hand out of there, it
hit the exhaust header about 6 inches from the head, and I am now
getting brand new skin there! The old skin feels like a reptile and
is peeling off nicely...
Got a replacement coolant distributor with quick and friendly service
from Ken at Van Again. Today was the day to put that in. I got some
discussion going about the worm gear drive clamps vs. the OEM spring
clamps. I like the idea of the spring clamps keeping constant
pressure on the hose and the fact that I wouldn't be torqueing on
them like I was when I broke the nipple off. In preparation for
working today I borrowed a nice tool for the spring clamps that looks
like this: http://i3.ebayimg.com/05/i/000/d9/83/dbb3_1.JPG That
makes working with those clamps quite easy. So I decided that I
would at least try to use the spring clamps in places where the hose
goes onto a plastic fitting. Stopped by the local dealer with my
part numbers in hand for the few clamps I need. The parts guy said
they didn't have any of the spring clamps, that they don't use them
and they replace them with the worm gear type. He said he hadn't
seen them since the 60's (first tip that he didn't know what he was
talking about). He said that mfgs use them because they are cheap
and easy to put on, once. (second tip.)
So I went home and decided I would use what I had. Next challenge,
getting all the hoses off the coolant distributor. Struggle,
struggle, last one left was the crossover hose that goes to the
thermostat housing. More struggle, just couldn't get any leverage up
in that tiny space. So I decided to take off the other end and take
that hose out with the coolant dist and then separate them. Loosened
the clamp at the thermostat housing and the hose popped right
off. Came off so easy because half the nipple was still in the
hose. I had replaced that hose within the past year and put the worm
gear hose clamp on there. So again, I was tightening that clamp and
putting sideways torque on the 22+ year old plastic and must have
cracked it. Good to find that issue now. So that brings me to:
New project, now, to remove the thermostat housing. Loosen many
hoses, sure am glad I have that hose clamp tool. Think I will invest
in one of some sort, maybe not this fancy cable job though... Next
challenge, getting the 2 bolts loose that hold the thermostat housing
to the engine. The 6mm hex heads are worn and threatening to
strip. I get some PB blaster in there and then carefully turned them
and they both come loose. That was a relief. When I got them out it
was clear one had been drifted with a chisel to get it out in the
past and the other was so worn it was hard to identify 6 flat sides
in the head. Oh, and the connector for the temp gauge sender was
unlike any I've ever seen on a VW before. Finally got that housing
out of the vehicle and took it apart. It looked like someone had
sawed or ground the heads off the bolts that hold the thermostat
cover on. I may just get a new cover too. Which brings me to the
questions:
Should I replace all the O-rings for the thermostat, senders and
mounting to the engine? Part numbers for those? Should I use some
sort of sealant in putting this back on the engine and the thermostat
cover back on? Looks like there was some orange stuff used when it
was put together. I guess I will see if I can find replacement bolts
locally, but in case I can't, anybody have PN for those? Where's my etka?
Edward