Date:         Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:52:41 -0400
Reply-To:     Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Air scoops
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

        While on this subject of the '86 ~ '91 factory air intake snorkel now that it's all been pointed out to you and where it is, the water infiltration of this snorkel is of MAJOR concern.  Even though they pointed the entry towards the rear of the van, as Mark pointed out, water still gets in there and wrecks that snorkel tube which is made partly of paper except for the ones on the Syncros which are made from all nice plastic so they are not a concern.  When those tubes get wet inside the paper becomes mushed and eventually the tube will collapse and restrict air flow to the engine causing a huge power drop.  I've had one here that would not go more than 40 mph and it took me awhile to figure out why.  The tube had collapsed and restricted air flow to the engine.  The best is that all these paper composite tubes be removed and install something more substantial.  Best is the ones from the Syncros but those are hard to find and you need to get the ends from the Syncro so that the tube can be fitted to the 2WD Snorkel assembly.  The easiest I have found is to use 3" plastic, not the aluminum, dryer venting from your local hardware store.  Those tubes as you will see when it's been removed are oval not round.  The dryer venting tube is round out of the package but can be formed oval by just forcing it down the pillar and force fitting it over the oval connector ends and taping that connection well.  I like to make the connection to the top piece, then insert the dryer venting tube down the pillar, pull it out from the bottom behind the tail light, mount the entry piece back to it's mounts on the van, pull the dryer vent until it's fairly expanded, not too much though, then make the connection to the bottom elbow then fit the elbow.  When you re-install the elbow the tubing will then have some slack and work just fine.  I ALWAYS check this tube as part of my tune-up procedure here at my shop.  Remove the RH tail light, reach up and feel the bottom of that tube where it connects to the plastic elbow, if it's started to collapse or already has a new dryer vent goes in.  Another sign that the paper composite tube is coming apart inside is when servicing the air filter, bits & pieces of that tubing will be found on the air filter, especially at the entry of the air filter box where the air is ducted in.  Hope this helps a few of you.


On 2013-04-14, at 5:17 PM, Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:

> All of the factory snorkel intakes pointed toward the rear of the
> vehicle. I'm sure the main concern is water entry.



Cheers,    

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale)
Frank Condelli & Associates - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
BusFusion a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 06 ~ 09, 2013