I've been running a 2.1 with the cooling system configured as the original 1.9 in my 84 Westy since 1997 without any detriment.  It has been running as cool as the original 1.9 with the needle just slightly to the left of the infamously talked about LED.  It's been constantly driven all over the country with a small trailer coast to coast since 1999 with just the Fan Switch going out (replaced of course), but I did not encounter any overheating problems with the before-mentioned configuration.  I recently did a total overhaul on the engine and noticed the needle at or just slightly to the right of the LED.  Replaced the radiator (it was definitely plugged up) and it's back to normal.

Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
oldvolkshome@earthlink.net
http://www.oldvolkshome.com

-----Original Message-----
From: LOREN BUSCH <labusch@VERIZON.NET>
Sent: Jun 8, 2004 8:53 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Overheating problem
Another
BUT:  You say you have a 2.1L wbx in an 85?  If this is correct then
part of the problem could be in the way the conversion was done.  I
can't list the details, but the plumbing for the cooling system on '86
and later 2.1L engines IS different from the earlier (83.5-85) 1.9L wbx
engines.  With the missing cooling components that you mentioned you can
suspect that the changeover to the 2.1L didn't take into consideration
the cooling system changes.