The L4 engines are easy candidates for mods usually because of the cooling
issues.  There are very few.  The critical part is a good flow from the
water pump through thermostat and then to the radiator and then through the
radiator and then back to the engine.  Same as with most other Water cooled
engines.  However I have found that on vanagons with water cooled engines
regardless of type if the idle was too low the temps climbed very high in
idle.  People seem to like to set idle to as low as possible and then brag
about it.  Not good as a certain rotation speed is needed by water pumps to
pump efficiently and make it all the way up front and up hill on the vanagon
to the radiator.  I found with my subie conversion that an idle of 1000 to
1100 is the best idle speed for mine.  Even though I could idle down to 800
and get less cooling at idle.  Guy that used to be up the street from me
with a tiico had to idle his at the same range.
jimt

On 8/24/05 8:43 AM, "David Bohannan" <fjazzbass@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> I am curious about this I4 conversion. How long have you had it
> installed, and has it ever cooled correctly at idle for extended
> periods of time?
>
> I haven't done the research, but with this conversion, aren't you
> messing with the engine's ability to be cooled down by switching out
> which vehicle the motor was intended on being installed in without
> taking all the same engineered parts over to the new vehicle..