Date: Sat, 5 May 2012 15:06:06 -0400
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Rad R&R procedure?
In-Reply-To: <4FA5696F.1080001@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 01:54 PM 5/5/2012, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>1. Are there brands/makes to avoid?
Dunno. Bus Depot sells good ones, last I knew they were ~150. They
*were* OEM from South Africa, dunno if they still are. List discount
code (5%) is list1e.
>2. How messy a job is it to R&R the rad?
You'll have a bunch of coolant to get rid of, and probably some
flakes of rust and such. Otherwise not to speak of.
>3. Is there a procedure online I can look at?
If you've got A/C you have to get the condenser out of the way;
someone else will have to help with that. Or if you're lucky you
won't, but I wouldn't care to bet on it.
So assuming you're air is as God intended it:
Get a friend if you can but it's for convenience, not necessity (the
less mechanically adroit you are the closer this approaches
necessity). The radiator/fan assembly is a lot heavier than you
think it is. Every time someone takes one off they say "wow, that's
a lot heavier than I was expecting" - at least the first time. It's
like your first look into the Tardis.
Bentley 19.12. Remove the eeny meeny miney mo... lower grill and
unplug the fan thermo-switch from in front. Unplug the fan from in back.
Study the picture. The radiator is captured between fixed upper and
adjustable lower brackets. In aid of this it has a smallish tit
extending up or down from each corner (the right-side ones are
visible in the photo) and each one carries a rubber washer which
is what actually makes contact with the bracket. Do Not Forget these
washers when putting it back together. You support the radiator up
against the upper bracket and shove the lower bracket up against it
before tightening the bracket mounting bolt.
So. You get your big bucket ready and take off the hoses. If you
don't have a hose clamp tool intended for flat-spring type hose
clamps, go get one. The largest one from NAPA is good, costs about
$30. There's one around that's remotely operated with a cable, I bet
it's really convenient in tight corners (and costs more). But I
haven't yet found a corner of the van where I absolutely couldn't
find a way to get the NAPA ones into place. Don't even think about
Vise Grips etc. unless you like getting hurt; ditto the clamp tools
intended for round-wire spring clamps. You may find you have to
remove the right-side bracket to get to the clamps properly.
Once it has drained, get that stuff out of the way, support the
radiator whilst removing the other bracket, and lower away. Watch
out for sharp bits (like the fins). If it fouls or doesn't come
freely, find out why! Set it down somewhere handy and transfer all
the pieces to the new one. Jam screwdriver through coils of new one
(this step is optional).
Put it all back. Remember those rubber washers! and remember to plug
the fan back in. Snug it up nicely against the upper brackets. List
wisdom is divided about those pesky spring-type hose clamps. The
people who are for them point out that they're made at some
considerable expense so that they will constantly take up as needed
and keep proper clamping pressure on the joint forever, which
screw-type clamps won't do. My impression of the "against" crowd is
that they've never used the proper tool to remove and install them,
without which they're bloody annoying and dangerous. YMMV. If you
do replace the spring clamps with screw ones, remember that the
Valkyries will come and poke you with pointed sticks if you use the
American type with holes pierced in the strap, since Teutonic hose is
not made for such dreadful abuse.
>4. Do it at home on the driveway, or take it to a shop?
I've done it two-three times with no difficulties. The front of
the van has to be high enough for the radiator to come out under it,
but I don't recall that as being extremely high. The new one will
show you. I see no reason at all to take it to a shop (and I'm about
to pay a shop to R&R a transmission that I'm quite capable of doing
and can't afford to pay for because I'm depressed enough right now
that it's Just Too Much Trouble to go out and lie in the driveway).
Yours,
David