Peter:
I am doing this replacement on Reinhardt right now.  The PO had made the 18"
fix initially (at least 4 years ago), but I have found major rust-through (read
"leaking") on both pipes farther forward of the rear cross member (one over the
fuel tank.)

IMHO, if the pipes look good forward of the crossmember, then I would do the
simple fix.  Replacing the pipes is a PITA, and the fix may certainly work for
a long time (others have done so).  I have dropped my fuel tank and found more
rust on the top of it (although no rust through) and rusted brake lines
(split).  If you go the whole replacement route, be prepared to uncover other
problems that you will want to address while you have it apart.  Could turn
into a bigger job than you had planned.

YMMV,

Maynard Southard  OvO '79
'82 Westy Diesel "Reinhardt"
'82 Vanagon GL Diesel
'93 EV GL "Klinger"
'00 Golf GLS TDI "WooHoo"
'84 Jetta GL TD "Donor"

On Sunday, September 16, 2001 10:27 PM, Peter Krogh <VW85Westy@AOL.COM> wrote:
> I dove into the cooling system R&R head first today, and got the removal
done,
> I think.  A question for the list.
>
> As I checked out my long pipes, I saw that the rust was only in the engine
> compartment.  Everywhere I could check, forward of the cross frame member
> (where the jack point is front of the rear wheel) the long pipes seem okay.
>
> I took a sawzall to the pipes and took off about 18 inches.  I am thinking
> about replacing this section with hose, and leaving the greater part of the
> long pipes in place.  OTOH, I could be persuaded that I should junk the long
> pipes altogether, and just go for a long run of flexible hose.
>
> Do any of you who have removed these remember if there was other rust, under
> the gas tank for instance, that I may be missing.