My 84 had the second pump in as many years when I got it. And it lasted
about a year before it needed another. I agree with Ken! My belt was slick
and needed tighten to keep it from squeeling. I got a new belt and found it
can be a little loose and still do it's job.

Joe

----- Original Message -----
From: <KENWILFY@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 10:32 AM
Subject: Re: [vanagon] After market water pumps

> I am in agreement with Ron on this one.  As far as water pumps go we
either
> sell Hepu (German), VW OE (who knows?)(when they are available), Geba
> (German)(my personal favorite but hard to come by) or Graff (Italian).  As
> far as any real quality difference in these pumps, I have installed all of
> them on my own vans or customers vans and we have had no infant mortality.
> Actually the only pump I have ever had come back as lasting only one year
was
> a VW OE pump.  Even the Graff (Italian) pumps seem to be really high
quality
> and are supposed to be original equipment on BMWs.
>
> There are folks out there that have burned through pumps at an astonishing
> rate.  I have talked to a few of these folks and brand doesn't seem to
make a
> difference ( in other words they bought cheaper pumps, and then dealer
pumps
> to see if that helped and they still went through the VW pumps like there
was
> no tomorrow).  In my opinion in these cases there is something wrong with
the
> engine on which the pump is installed.  Either the pulley configuration is
> off, the person installing the pumps is over tightening the belts, or
> something beside the pumps is actually causing them to fail (that is why
they
> keep failing, and keep failing).  Just my opinion.  Maybe a good excuse to
> take all the money you have been spending on water pumps and put it
towards
> an engine conversion (ala Eric).  :)
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
> Phone: (856)-765-1583
> Fax: (856)-327-2242
>