Turns out I need the upper thermostat housing for my 1.9 liter 1983.5 Vanagon
as well as a water pump.  I see one list vendor has the upper thermostat
housing for $225 which of course means it would cost more at the VW dealer. I
see another vendor has the upper thermostat housing for the later 86-91
Vaangon for  $11.95 but none listed for the 1.9 liter.

I assume the later Vanagon uses a different housing than the early 1.9
liters. But anyone who has knowledge of these housings please share your
advice or even sympathy (i.e. " I just had to buy one and it cost me over
$200."). My guess is locating a good used housing will be difficult to find
and will take more time than I have.

My upper thermostat housing is part number 025 021 117 and maybe there is a
suffix C. I may have the middle three digits wrong as they have been dented
and are somewhat illegible. It is aluminumn and in a non-vanagon world would
retail for about $35. But this is the Vanagon world isn't it.

Mine BTW was all gooped up and glued by the DPO. And while it worked
OK--meaning it didn't leak--I wouldn't dare reinstall it. In fact one of the
bolts that holds it to the water pump is fused to the housing with I don't
know what, but won't budge. The bolt snapped and the shaft is still fused
into the thermostat housing--although everything is out of the bus right now.

TIA
Jeff
83.5 Westy