I have no clue about how to come about the BTU rating of either radiator.  I
guess I will leave that to the engineers on the list.  As far as lasting
goes, again I have no data either way.  It seems that VW put copper core
radiators stock on some vans and Aluminum core on others.  I have sold many
radiators over the past several years and I will say one thing.  The
Radiator is a wear item.  If it doesn't rot out from corrosion on the
outside, it plugs up from debris, etc from the inside.  I would say the life
span of a radiator is 8-10 years if you never put any "Bar's Leak" in the
system about three months of you add this marvelous mixture.

As far as removing the name, I have only ever seen this done to remove VWs
logo.  I have seen some really crappy Brazil or Chinese made stuff and this
stuff usually comes in a white box with no name ever stamped or made on
anything.  They don't bother to take crappy names off of stuff because, as I
said, the crappy manufacturers don't put thier names on the products they
produce in the first place.  Just FYI.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of George Goff
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 10:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: More Info on Copper Core German Radiators

In a message dated 9/30/02 3:12:36 PM, kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET writes:

<< The copper radiator has two tubes side by side

that make up one row.  So the aluminum radiator has 44 rows and therefore 44

tubes.  However the copper radiator has 43 rows but 86 tubes.  I would

imagine the latter would be more efficient. >>

Ken,

You certainly have provided a lot of data to digest.  On thing, though; what
are the Btu/hr ratings of the two choices?  I am not sure if this has any
statistical significance or not, but I have had 4 vans 1 with a Cu radiator
and 3 with Al radiators.  The Cu radiator expired (terminally rotted out) at
less than 90Kmi.  The Al radiators all have lasted over 140Kmi so far with
one having 208 Kmi on it and, the last I heard, still going strong.

Also, removing the manufacturer's trademark name is usually done to second
quality merchandise.

George