Date: Sun, 13 Sep 2009 14:18:54 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Coolant hose replacement
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reply-type=response
Lucky you had a helpful parts person there, who was willing to just go 'look
and match.'
There are LOTS of hoses that can be used, or made to work if need be.
"The Trick" is either getting someone to be willing to look and match, or
letting you go to where all the hoses are hanging, often in a back room at a
FLAPS, to let you look and match. I get engine conversion hoses that way -
I might need 'this bend, in this inside diameter' .....
and if they'll let you get at the hoses, it's easy.
Many cooling system hoses have the same inside diameters as we might need
here and there on our vanagons. Hoses or 'sort of' standardized that way,
loosely speaking. 1 and 1/2 inches ID is very standard for example.
Hopefully your plastic coolant distributor hidden behind the firewall that
hose goes onto is OK. Those like to crumble and break sometimes.
that's not return from the radiator btw I don't think.
It's hot coolant going out to the coolant distributor, from the engine's
right side ( and cylinder head )
Hot coolant from the left side connects to the top of the coolant
distributor up under there where it's nice and tricky to get to. The flow
for the main circuit is out the forward ends of both cylinder heads, pretty
sure.
I usually get rid of those springy hose factory hose clamps too. They're a
hazard, and only for assembly at the factory, in my opinion.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Potts" <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 1:05 PM
Subject: Coolant hose replacement
> Hi Volks,
>
> I took my 87 wolfsburg out for a shakedown cruise last night; just a
> short jaunt about 12 minutes down the highway from home. It ran great
> for the first 8 or 9 minutes, then I happened to notice a spray of water
> and stream behind me. A glance at the temp gauge said that it must be a
> small leak, and I was able to get to my destination without overheating
> or lighting the coolant sensor level light.
>
> On arrival I unloaded the rear compartment and had a look inside. The
> coolant line between #1 cylinder and the rad return line had ruptured,
> with a small hole on the inside radius of one of the bends. Nothing I
> could do about that. I let the van cool down, refilled the tanks and
> nursed it home without incident. Ok, I did have to refill the tanks
> about two miles from home but that was not a big deal.
>
> This morning I pulled the hose off and found a VW part number on it. I
> typed the number into Google and discovered that it's not easy to come
> by. Frank Condelli's site lists it as part of the Boston Engine coolany
> hose kit, for $326. Ouch! Another site lists it as "limited availability
> and 6-21 days delivery. Double Ouch.
>
> Normally I'd call Frank and discuss my options but I know he's off
> camping in Quebec so I set off to my local FLAPS to see what could be
> done on a Sunday. The dude behind the counter at PartsSource takes my
> hose off to the back room and comes back a short time later with a
> Prestone heater core hose # 84031. It's about 6" too long at one end and
> 1" too long at the other, but the important part is the bends in the
> middle and those are near perfect. For $14 it's mine and I'm on my way.
>
> I posted pics of the hose in question here:
> http://www.pottsfamily.ca/Vanagon/VanagonCoolinghoseSubstitution/
>
> Has anyone else documented similar subsitutions? As these parts get
> older and spares get rarer this is useful info to have.
>
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Greg Potts
> 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
> www.busesofthecorn.com
> www.pottsfamily.ca
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