Hi, my name is Alex and I am the owner of an 82 vanagon. I left Montreal 2
   months ago and I am in California now. I have a problem with my van: the
   pipes that brings the water coolant in front are badly rusted and needs to be
   replaced. The VW dealer tells me it will cost 2000$ US to replace!!! Is it
   possible to find good used pipes. Do you know where in California or do you
   knwow someone who could help me in California.     Hope you have good news
   for me.   Thanks       Alex
   Please write me at:  alexskiandclimb@hotmail.com

Hi Alex,

Seems to me that you want to find a temporary fix, then look
for a more reasonable priced solution.

Is your leak a pinhole leak? If so just get a standard leak patch
kit from a hardware store. (Piece of soft rubber, stainless steel,
2 hose clamps. rubber goes over hole, steel wraps around pipe
and two hose clamps secure.)

If your pipes are deteriorated completely over a longer section
simply cut it out and replace with radiator hose.

For a permanent fix you can buy new plastic pipes from VW. Pretty
priecey even just for the part. Or you can pull the plastic pipes
from a late model vanagon in a junk yard -- they don't rust.

Since yours is a '82 and watercooled I assume it's a Diesel.
Keep an eye at the coolant level! You'll blow the engine quite
quickly if you run low.

Good luck,
MArtin
--
Westy 1.9l Turbo Diesel (Not for sale!)

Quantum 1.6l Turbo Diesel FOR SALE, See:

    http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jager/vw/Quantum/QuantumTD85.html

New and used parts for sale, gas and Diesel:

    http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~jager/vw/Yale/forsale.html

Martin Jagersand                 email: vwjag@hammer.cs.jhu.edu
Computer Science Department
Johns Hopkins University

        Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
          WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
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