thanks guys.
Amongst other things, I have harvested the lower rad mounts/clip-nuts, the
two rubber hoses between long coolant pipes and rad, fan, top mount bracket
and radiator (with plastic tanks) from a 1985 Vanagon "Transporter".

I will be installing a new rad, even though the old one didn't appear to
leak.

In hindsight (as I earlier wrote) it would have been easier to measure up
the 85 top bracket and make something out of angle "iron" or other material.

Next time...... ;^)

Neil.

On 12/8/07, Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> To expound further on Mark's clarification,
> if you are converting an air-cooled , ideally you
> need a Diesel Vanagon radiator. These are rare.
>
> You also need the Diesel Vanagon radiator-to-hose
> metal "shepherds crook" coolant pipe, that
> connects the upper radiator outlet to the
> underbody coolant pipe.
>
> Since my Vanagon is a Diesel , I can only use a
> Diesel Vanagon radiator, unless I want to start
> chiseling.
>
> I have a spare Diesel radiator, but will not part
> with it because it is my spare.
>
> Some are using the bigger WBX radiator with the
> 450 watt fan and larger diameter plastic or
> stainless coolant pipes.
>
> These may be needed if you are in a hot climate
> or plan to install a higher hp engine.
>
> For our climate in the PNW, I have never needed
> anything more, overheating has not been a
> problem.
> My engine is a '95 Jetta or Golf 2.0 .
>
> Robert
>
> 1982 Westfalia
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET> wrote:
>
> > The  radiator top mount method changed
> > drastically in 1983 when the
> > radiator and fan shroud changed. The 83+ top
> > bracket can be removed from
> > a donor with enough effort but why bother? It
> > is simple enough to make
> > top brackets to do that job and allow the
> > needed support for the upper
> > pegs of the later radiator. The 82 and older
> > radiator used thread in
> > rubber mounts on brackets top and bottom. These
> > older brackets and
> > rubber mounts don't work with the 83+
> > radiators.
> >
> > Every time I post about this I get a pmail or 2
> > reminding me that
> > watercooled started in 83.5. False of course,
> > since VW started building
> > diesel engine models in late 81 and these are
> > watercooled.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > neil N wrote:
> > > Hey Robert.
> > > Thanks. I know you have the nice I4 setup, so
> > I appreciate the info.
> > >
> > > I tried drilling out the spot welds but ended
> > up chiseling because there
> > > were 5-7 inaccessible spot welds that were
> > only visible from the top from
> > > inside the van (dash removed) I couldn't get
> > my drill at them because of the
> > > angle.
> > >
> > > There is no stock upper mount on my 81 Westy.
> > >
> > > I bought it in Canada and am pretty sure this
> > is a Canadian model.
> > >
> > > Thanks for direction on the two 10 mm holes
> > for lower grille. I'll keep my
> > > spare parts van long enough to "measure
> > twice" and transfer that to my 81.
> > > As for lower rad mounts, I've harvested the
> > clip-on nuts and L brackets for
> > > the lower mounts.
> > >
> > > In hindsight, (and I'll be posting all this
> > on my other website) I think one
> > > alternative for the upper mount is to get
> > some angle "iron" and make the
> > > part. For that matter, one might just make it
> > out of two  pieces. It didn't
> > > take too long to get the part out, but one
> > has to drill quite a few holes.
> > > Regardless, several of them will serve as
> > holes for screws to mount the part
> > > to my 81. I'll post rough measurements of the
> > stock one for anyone that
> > > wants to attempt making it.
> > >
> > > And to the list:
> > >
> > > For the record, I posted all that other stuff
> > in jest. I just thought the
> > > sight of a hacked out upper rad mount bracket
> > would make people laugh and
> > > was good Friday material.
> > >
> > > I will finish what I started, and am certain
> > I'll have no regrets! ---:^)
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > >
> > > Neil.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
> > > "Jaco"  (Bustorius)
> > http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> > >
> > > Engine swap beginings:
> > http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> > >
> > > On Dec 7, 2007 9:30 PM, Robert Keezer
> > <warmerwagen@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>I converted a 1980 Westfalia to a
> > water-cooled
> > >>inline -four and I don't understand what all
> > the
> > >>chiseling is about.
> > >>
> > >> The two holes for the two top ten mm bolts
> > are
> > >>already in place- all you need to do is make
> > a
> > >>grille template from a water-cooled Vanagon,
> > >>trace it onto the air-cooled and cut the
> > lower
> > >>radiator grille opening  .
> > >>
> > >>The top mounts are there from the factory in
> > the
> > >>air-cooeld models. The bottom has two
> > brackets
> > >>that bolt to the frame and the radiator.
> > >>Assuming that the Canadian model is identical
> > up
> > >>front to the American one..
> > >>
> > >>Robert
> > >>
> > >>1982 Westfalia
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
>
>
>
>
>       ____________________________________________________________________________________
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--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco"  (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/