Date:         Sun, 20 Jul 1997 22:30:00 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Thomas <vanagon@ATL.MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: '81 thermostat necessary?

>>
>>>At 08:48 PM 7/19/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>>In a message dated 97-07-19 05:39:14 EDT, bill@FREEHOLDER.COM (Bill Nolan)
>>>writes:
>>>
>>><< I am putting a rebuilt engine into my '81.  Several people (including the
>>> parts manager at VW) have told me I would be better off not bothering with
>>> the thermostat.  Some have said to just wire the flappers open.  The guy at
>>> VW said to just remove the flappers completely.<<
>>>
>>>Some people agree and some disagree with the line of thinking that "if the
>>>cheapskates at VW engineered it into the car, ya better keep it." I report to
>>>the platoon of beleivers.
>>>
>>>After two 914's and two busses, and having spent a year as a motor builder
>>>for a custom VW shop, I would STRONGLY RECCOMEND KEEPING the thermostat and
>>>associated flaps. I can't think of a good reason to get rid of it. You can't
>>>improve your cooling by getting rid of the thermo, and will SEVERELY DEGRADE
>>>your cooling if you REMOVE THE FLAPS.
>>>
>>>This system does nothing more than help the motor achieve operating temp. The
>>>thermostat "opens" at around 250 F, and your cooling air tends to hit this
>>>within five mins with the thermo in place. Like most machinery, your van
>>>operates best at "operating temp", so what's the issue?
>>>
>>>If anything, I would TEST the thermo (see Haynes manual for specs), and
>>>REPLACE it if it doesn't do its thing. I just finished a rebuild on my wife's
>>>new daily driver, a '76 2.0 bus and spent the $$$'s for a new thermo and
>>>attatchment wire. To increase coolin, we added an Empi 8-pass oil cooler
>>>(mounted under the bus, behind left rear wheel) and oil thermostat. If you
>>>need more cooling, cool the lifeblood!!!
>>>
>>>If you must disconnect the thermo, leave the flaps, BTW there is no need to
>>>"wire" them open, the little spring on top of the fan housing holds them in
>>>the MAX cool position in case the thrmo fails.
>>>
>>>best of luck, and safe motoring
>>>
>>>gmbulley
>>>fairfax, va
>>
>>I agree with the believers.  The PO of my 69 Westy took out the flaps when
he installed a Mexican longblock.  I had an ATK longblock installed when the
heads warped during a summer desert crossing - turns out the PO also had an
auxillary oil cooler installed, the type that mounts in front of the cooler
housing intake.
>>
>>When the engine was pulled for the ATK install the mechanic pointed out
severe accumulation of dirt in the cooler fins - effectively blocking air
flow (I recognized red dust from a sandstorm I passed through in the Navajo
rez).
>>
>>With the Aux cooler scrapped and a "doghouse" housing from a later model
installed I had no more overheating but discovered the reality of
overcooling in the wintertime.  My VDO oil temp gauge dipped into the cold
zone while in Yosemite one winter.  I even lost heat when engine loads were
low (downhill glides).  Heat returned, such as it is,  and the gauge rose
out of the blue (barely) on uphill sections.
>>
>>The moral:  Yes Virginia, aircooled engines CAN run too cool if
functioning flaps are not in place.  VW would not put them there for no reason.
>>
>