Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:15:53 EDT
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine tin (was Re: Look at my crack!)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 16/10/2008 11:50:05 A.M. Central Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
Allen, those are the push rod tube cover plates. They are there to
protect the fragile push rod tubes from being damaged from road debris and
causing a major oil leak. They are still available from VW new but expensive.
They are a PITA to install ~ remove as the mounting tabs are made to go on
the lower exhaust studs which may be hard to remove unless they have been
recently replaced with stainless, brass or new other hardware. I always open up
the hole in the tab so that it is a slot which makes for easier removal ~
installation. That way you do not need to completely remove the bolt or nut on
the exhaust stud, just loosen it enough to slip the tab in there. The lower
mounting is to the block and that is easy. Some folks drill holes in them to
have easy access to the coolant drain plug in the heads otherwise they must
be removed to access those drain plugs. I do not do this as I have a better
way of flushing and filling the cooling system. These cover plates are
renowned for rusting away into oblivion and I do recommend coating them with
POR-15 which is not easy as the metal they are made from is hard to get the
POR-15 to stick to without sandblasting them first to get a rough enough surface
everywhere to allow the POR-15 to stick. Still that is not the perfect
solution either as these plates are made up of two layers of tin and there is no
practical way to get the POR-15 in between the two layers so rusting could still
occur there. Also the tabs being bolted to the exhaust studs causes the
tab to get quite hot which causes the POR-15 to peel off on the tabs. I shoot
Krown rust proofing oil in between the two layers which seems to help that
situation. The part numbers of these two push rod tube covers is below and
they are the same on all VW waterboxer engines, 1.9s and 2.1s, if your looking
for good used ones. If you find good ones with broken or missing tabs, the
tabs can be remade and welded on with good success. So.....there ya
go.......all you ever wanted to know about push rod tube cover plates !
Push rod tube cover plate, RH, 025 109 656 - $129.62
Push rod tube cover plate, LH, 025 109 655 - $129.62
The prices are VW Canada's retail price last time I ordered them.
>>>>>Anyway, I noticed in your pics that you have tin covering the bottom of
the engine (where the pushrod tubes are, etc). I don't have any of that
on mine, wondering if that's a big deal or not....<<<<<<<<
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2008
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