Thanks for an additional suggestion. That's why this list is such a great resource!
Jerry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <felder@knology.net>
To: "Gerald Masar" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 8:03 PM
Subject: Re: Anyone repaired plastic coolant tubes??

> I just wanted to mention that I first had a problem with leaking
> three years ago from one of the front hose connections. I tightened
> it, wrote the problem off to having the car up north in 18 degree
> weather, and drove on for a year. Then it leaked again, same place. I
> removed the hose and saw that the metal was in place but the plastic
> around it had split to pieces, allowing the coolant leak. I removed
> the broken plastic, sanded the metal, and recreated the missing
> plastic and flange out of JB weld, which wasn't have but was like
> using a very loose modeling clay. I put the JB weld around the metal
> pipe, more or less to the height of the plastic, and wrapped it with
> packing tape to make it smooth with the plastic. I came back a second
> time and fashioned the flange at the end.
>
> That's been two years and not a drop out of it.
>
> Jim
>