Bretts--

In case you don't know, the Upper Thermostat Housing (UTH) on the 1.9
Waterpump assembly is no longer available (NLA) from VW or after-market suppliers.
When replacing the water pump you do not have to replace the UTH. However you
will interact with it-- Two long bolts run through the UTH to secure the water
pump. You should not have trouble removing those bolts, so not to worry.

If you did remove the UTH to replace the short piece of rubber hose between
it and the block DO NOT take the flange off the back of the UTH which is
secured to the UTH by two bolts. Honestly you probably wouldn't take that flange off
for any reason anyway. It does not need to be removed ever, really. The
flange attaches the UTH to the short length of hose--so while you can remove the
hose you probalby would not ever remove the flange from the UTH . But if you did
the short bolts would likely break and you'd be stuck for a bit until you
could find a replacemnt for the UTH.

UTH are available used. So there's no reason to be terrified of it. But I
share the warning as a heads up so you treat it well and avoid issues.

Having said all that it is likely the UTH will not give you any trouble. And
as I remember you don't have to remove the UTH unless you're replacing that
short rubber hose.

I replaced the short hose when I did my water pump because in theory it was
pretty old and rubber and why not replace it now (25 years after it was
installed) instead of waiting for it to fail. Other side of the coin is it may never
fail.

That's all the scare tactics I can offer for now.

Ramps worked nicely to replace the water pump. Plenty of room to get under
the vehicle. some work you'll do from the top. (I'm not suggesting you get on
the train with ramps.)

Best,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA

In a message dated 5/20/2007 9:47:28 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
cunegonde.van.westfalia@GMAIL.COM writes:

I'm spending the week in Portland replacing Cunegonde's waterpump

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