Date:         Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:11:45 -0400
Reply-To:     A2L1 <mr.a2l1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         A2L1 <mr.a2l1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Replacing the water pump on a 2.1
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I have a 91 that started spitting coolant all over the place on a drive.
Fortunately I was only a couple of blocks from home. Got it home and let it
cool down. Investigated and determined that the leak was the water pump. So
far no problem. Got a pump from The Bus Depot, on sale even, and got set to
do the swap.It has been three days now because I only do a little every day.
When the frustration level goes up of trying to get my big mitts in the
little spots within the motor compartment, I just stop for the day. Well
today I finally got the pump out after moving the A/C compressor. Not
disconnecting it, just swinging it up out of the way. A bungee cord looped
through the rear seat headrest is holding it up and out nicely.
Disconnecting the cooling pipe from the right head and the pump, all the
good stuff. It seems that someone has in the past either removed the pump or
has tried to because two of the allen bolts were slightly rounded. Being the
owner of a big hammer and a couple of allen head sockets I did manage to get
them out. I know my luck is really good and I expect in the future to be
replacing this very pump! To save the knuckles and the shock to the
neighbors when I get vocal I want to replace the allen bolts that are on the
coolant pipes to the water pump with standard bolts. It will be easier to
install and far easier to remove the next time but the problem is I dont
know what bolts will work.
Has anyone replaced the allens with standard bolts? I am not anywhere even
remotely close to a VW dealer so just popping in and getting a few is out of
the question. I dont know what the metric size is nor how to determine what
it is. I figured I may be able to get them at someplace like Advanced Auto
or NAPA. I really dont want to put the allen bolts back in there let alone
these reamed out ones. I could just travel around with the allen and try to
match it but was hoping to save all that time if someone knew what size they
were.
This is in a for what its worth category. Advanced Auto has the little 90
degree hose with the different size ends, the one that goes to the oil
cooler I believe. its the one right there at the water pump. Anyway it was
inexpensive and is a formed 90 pressure hose. Figured while he pump was off
I should replace that one because it would be a real bear to do later.

Thanks,

A J



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