Date:         Tue, 20 May 2014 13:57:37 -0700
Reply-To:     John Schwartz <pa38112@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Schwartz <pa38112@ROADRUNNER.COM>
Subject:      Re: WBX Plastic Coolant Pipe Inspection
In-Reply-To:  <CAN1zYv8d=BahLoATDeS1E0YVghneH7mSwNZgBtLswsy2p_FyYw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Just got done doing this job too!!!

IMPO, for the work involved it is better to get the stainless pipes and replace them and the hoses while you have the cooling system down...  

Something else I did; and even though they were done in the past couple of years, is went in a replaced the fuel lines around the gas tank...  

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Stacy Schneider
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 10:48 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: WBX Plastic Coolant Pipe Inspection

     When I built my Mutivan  last year I was able to get a beautiful set of near NOS coolant pipes from GW ,Looked as good as new with no rust on the insert and uncracked tube ends. As nice a set as you will find I thought .
     A year later I pulled the engine for  a conversion and found that one of the ends was walking its way out ,about a 1/3 out when i saw it .
     So I did what I couldn't have afforded when I first built the van and bought SS tubes as well as replaced the plastic heater tees and front coupler  at the heater valve which nice barbed brass fittings as well as the Plastic union near #1 cylinder with a SS unit . The only plastic I have in the system now is a stepped coupler at the coolant bottle because of the Subaru conversion. I will change that out as well with brass.
     In my Syncro Tristar the only plastic coupler is the thermostat housing cover. I have had those plastic fitting in  my Passat fail on a road trip one time. We were able to limp it to dealership and fix it ,but things like that can ruin a vacation for sure .


                                                  Stacy


On Tue, May 20, 2014 at 10:23 AM, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks Mike, Ken and Mark.
>
> I was just getting ready to order the stainless version of the coolant 

> manifold "junction" and was considering an aluminum thermostat housing 

> too. I made a "temporary" repair to the existing thermostat housing
> (image: http://tinyurl.com/o4a97jp ) which is holding fine, no leaks, 
> but that part should obviously be replaced.
>
> The issue for me up here in Canada is down time with shipping so it's 
> best to nail down all the parts I'll need before opening things up.
> The Vanagon runs ok as is.
>
> This 2.1 seems to have life left in it. Having nicer upgraded parts on 

> it may help resale value should I sell it while it's still in good 
> shape.
>
> Neil.
>
> On 5/20/14, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > I agree and would say that the black plastic parts near the heads 
> > are the larger peril. Inspect the 4 ends of the long pipes and deal 
> > with them as needed but REPLACE the black multiple hose junction 
> > near the right head and the black thermostat housing assembly on the left head.
> > In addition if your engine has the black plastic single hose 
> > piece(s) on the right head below the alternator then get new metal ones for those.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> > Mike B wrote:
> >>    I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but, there's a lot more 
> >> plastic parts in your cooling system than just the long pipes.
> >>    I've had a coolant tower on the right front head pop a 
> >> factory-glued
>
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca
>
> '88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej
>



--
   1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
    Oldest son is an Eagle scout.