I just got back from a 1200 mile round trip in my 81 aircooled westy.
Outside temps were 85 plus degrees, and I traveled during daylight hours.

Now I consider myself an aircooled guy, but I also have an 88 weekender that
is water cooled.  So I feel I can compare and contrast.

I really love the air-cooled van, but you cannot be in a hurry with it.  I
have CHT gauge, oil pressure and oil temp gauges in the
car............Boston Bob engine.  Runs great.  When it gets really hot out
90+, 60mph will give me a oil temp of about 110C and CHT of around 350F.
If I were to want to go 70+mph, My oil temps soar to 120C..kinda hot.   So,
I take my time and drive by the gauges.  Fairly simple motor/AFC injection
easy to troubleshoot...much easier than Digifant system to work on.

Now when it comes to my 88, I can go 70-75 mph all day long and not have to
worry about overheating.  The downside is, that when there is a problem it
is harder to diagnose and fix, especially with the injection.  i have
replaced most of my hoses and other cooling system components, so that is
not an issue on my van.....I constantly inspect and fix stuff before it
breaks..........

Adam P

81 Vanagon Westy (The Brick)
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck Hill" <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 7:40 AM
Subject: Aircooled upgrade

> Let's discuss installing an aircooled engine in one of those poor
> broken-down Wasserleakers.
>
> In the midwest, you can find plenty of 80-83 bodies that have gotten too
> rusty to love any more that will donate parts for a drive train, etc.
> and there seem to be some newer bodies around that would be great with a
> new engine.  Why not put an aircooled engine in the newer body?  Simon
> Glenn even wants an aircooled Syncro, having broken down in the Sahara
> desert with cooling problems.
>
> OK List, new thread, at last.
>
> Chuck Hill
>