Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:35:43 -0500
Reply-To: Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Air vs. Water
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I didn't see any pancake or type IV air cooled vw engines in Mexico. All of
the bug, thing (pretty common) and bay bus motors that I saw had the upright
cooling system (or pieces of it at least) and similar at least engine case.
The Vanagon was also never available in Mexico from what I know, though I
did hear one rumor of a limited release in one local,, can't remember the
details of that though. I drove around much of the country and only saw a
few Vanagons that weren't temporarily being driven in the country by
tourists. Those few vanagons that I saw were all out of service and on the
west coast. One mid eighties water cooler had even been painted up like the
local taxi busses, but was retired years ago.
The newer beetles that I saw had upright cooling, hydraulic lifters, fuel
injection, alternators etc.,, can't remember the displacement. When first
opening the decklid on those new beetles they look a lot like a late 70's
u.s. beetle engine with an alternator but then you start to notice that
things are a lot different in there.
Many or most of the bay window busses that are common around mexico are
running water cooled I4 motors with radiators up front.
There are not many parts that you will be able to get for any Vanagon down
in Mexico, water or air cooled. Good tires are easier to find than here in
the states but the rest of it you can bring it with you, have it shipped in
from out of country or get lucky cross referencing to a Mexican VW through
etka.
I know of a few folks living in Mexico with their vans that have trouble
getting service. They have to have parts shipped in etc. etc.
If this is a big issue to you consider buying a van when you get there and
then just driving it. I saw a few folks doing just that. Of course if you
plan to pick up an air-cooled bus I recommend taking the cooling tin and
seals down with you because apparently the Mexican version of the Bently
discourages reinstalling the tin after engine removal.
Jonathan Poole
'83 AC Westy