Date:         Mon, 9 Dec 2013 21:49:47 -0500
Reply-To:     phishman068@GMAIL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: More questions pertaining to my 88 model Bluestar project
Comments: To: Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <16A9A00C-D452-4740-A623-6FE9BE12CCAE@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Prestone is fine. 

-craig

On Dec 9, 2013, at 9:10 PM, Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM> wrote:

> I have just run the 2.1 engine for just a few seconds at a time as I don't yet have the antifreeze in it.   My questions are as follows:    I know antifreeze is a tricky subject in these vans.   Can I ask what common brand antifreeze I can use in this van.      I live in an area where I have Autozone, O'Reilly,  Napa and Walmart.    The closest VW dealer is more than 1 1/2 hours drive away.   My instinct is to use Prestone long life from Walmart mixed with my top of the mountain well water.   Other than its 25 years old and the engine is perhaps 3 years more, I dont really know what I've got.  By the time I have fixed leaks, probably replaced the water pump etc I will have to replace the antifreeze again.   Any tips?
> 
> My noises are basically coming from the exhaust system.   I got second hand parts off a syncro I think.   I had to drive almost 3 hours to Raleigh to get these fairly expensive parts as I could find them no where else..  Vanagons don't seem to be easy to find parts for and there are none in this area that i know of.
> The muffler shroud is about 2 inches longer than it should be.   I drilled new holes in it when I installed it and now I need to cut off the excess length that is hanging down below the crankcase.   The tail pipe rattles against the body work close to it so its probably not the right one either.   I plan on rotating or adapting it until it clears stuff around it.   The threaded  port on the exhaust pipe is missing its cap and I am probably going to plug it with something, maybe weld it shut or drill and tap it and use a bolt and washer.      I also got cooling system parts, which I found on The Samba but these all seem to fit correctly.    I am trying to use original VW parts as much as possible but I am not well up on changes over the years.      Are there any other pitfalls I am going to run into :-) ??    Does anyone know Vanagon parts sources and gurus, here in the southeast? 
> 
> This has been a wonderfully helpful group and I thank you all in advance!!          Steve