I think that I didn't understand your post and I didn't realize you were
doing a conversion.  Traveling in Mexico has made it hard for me to read all
of the posts and I just spot read the digest.  I am now glad to understand
where you are coming from.  I look forward to learning more about how your
conversion goes because after my new engine wears out I may put a more
modern engine in my van??

Jonathan Poole
'83 ac westy

On Dec 8, 2007 1:20 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hopefully I'm not misunderstanding your post. :^)
>
> For the record everyone, I started this thread as an attempt at Friday
> humour.
>
> I love my air cooled Westy, (though it is underpowered). Why else would I
> be going to all this trouble to convert it?
>
> :^)
>
> I started my driving life with the old Beetles. A 58' in fact. Loved that
> car. And I really enjoy the sound of an air cooled engine.
>
> True my 15 degree conversion site contains a "warning" of sorts, but
> that's only in an effort to help other people really think about what
> they're getting into. i.e. I *strongly* suggest that one should think
> twice about doing this conversion **unless** their air cooled van is cherry
> and rust free.
>
> But that's just my .02 --- :^)
>
> I'm totally "into it" and I'm posting what I can to help others if they
> choose to go this route. Thinking about it now, for the "handy" people on
> this list, an air cooled bus might be a really economical way to go in terms
> of an engine conversion. Pick up a rust free with a blown motor for a
> "song".....
>
> Not sure if you are referring to the quoted text below, but as for
> "chiseling" I'm pretty sure Robert was being literal. I ended up chiseling
> the top rad mount bracket out because 6 or so of the spot welds were only
> visible from the top in area behind dash. Drilling would have been really
> tough due angle, so I found that the chisel went through the metal easily.
> If I did it again, I'd just drill a few "starter" holes and chisel around
> the welds, and remove the extra metal on the bench.
>
> Neil.
>
>
> Robert 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
>
>
>
> On Dec 8, 2007 7:31 AM, Jonathan Poole < jfpoolio@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I am with you Robert.  It seems to me that on this list of all places
> > folks
> > would be open to the idea of such projects.  Also I don't think you even
> >
> > need to cut the lower grill opening as it is for air conditioning and
> > the
> > top opening allows for plentiful airflow to the radiator so that makes
> > it
> > even easier.
> >
> > I am guessing that the anti early vanagon/air-cooled (conversion and
> > otherwise) folks are in the minority but I don't understand why they are
> > so
> > against the early vanagons?
> >
> > Jonathan Poole
> > '83 ac westy
> >
>
>
>
>