When I replaced the hoses on my 85GL, I replaced the T for the rear heater with a T with all 3 ends the same size. Then the standard size heater hose fits. I think VW had it smaller going to the rear heater so enough coolant would be forced to the front heater to make it warm too.There is supposed to be a restrictor at the rear heater also, but I don't know where mine went to. I thought I put the restictor back in, I hope it didn't come loose and is floating around the cooling system somewhere........with the smaller T size VW used maybe the restrictor piece wouldn't have come loose? I don't know if the restrictor piece is small enough to get past the T that I put in, might be something to check if you go this way. I have my rear heater throttled at the control valve so not all the coolant flow goes to the rear. 
Also I just replaced my rear heater yesterday with a $95 one from Rocky Mountain Motor Works (because I had a $60 credit there and their parts have a lifetime Warranty, which for the rear heater core might come in handy).  As list member David Beierl says "the rear heater keeps the cabin warm and the front heater keeps your toes warm." The Van is much warmer now with the rear heater back in service. Boy it's been a long winter in the midwest this year.

Mark Ingalls
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: hradek@yahoo.com 
  To: vanagon@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 10:40 AM
  Subject: [vanagon] more hoses to leak

  These vanagons have more hoses than you can shake a stick at.
  Does anyone have any information about the connection from the rear 
  heater to the plastic T piece.   It appears that my t-piece failed 
  because a screw clamp had been substituted for those hard to handle 
  spring clamps.   In fact the parts man at vw says that the vw service 
  does not use the spring clamps because they are hard to get on and
  off 
  and prefer the screw clamps.   I can see that at the plastic T and 
  other places the spring clamp is a better idea.   I belive my heater 
  hose to this plastic T was too short and complicated by the screw 
  clamp which may have been overtightened.  The spring clamps are hard 
  to get out, particuliar in hard to get places.
      The question I have about the heater hose connection to the 
  plastic T is if the end of the hose is flaired out to a larger size
  as 
  it goes into the T or can you just by standard hose from flaps?   The 
  oem T on this manual 1987 vanagon appears to have a standard hose but 
  Ken and Ron appear to sell a 30 dollar hose which may or may not 
  require modification????   What about the heater side?
     More for curosity, why is the price of the  hose from thermostat 
  toward the radiator for an automatic 3 times the price of a standard.
  Not to beat a dead horse but these vanagons have more spring clamps 
  than you can shake a hose at.  spring leaks gary

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