that's possible I suppose.
and..........the easiest thing to do is replace the obviously broken part,
get some proper anti-frz mixture in there, and fire it up and see whatcha
got.
or take it apart and see whatcha got,
so normally you proceed the first way .
I'm sure everyone knows that 50/50 water-to-antifrz is protection to about
34 below zero F.
so mostly......if you get it anywhere near 50/50 at all, you're good to say
10 below at least.

I also add machinists water solutble oil as a rust inhibutor and water pump
lube ........a half cup or so for the entire cooling system .......this
works, great, and I been doing for decades on cars and vanagons.

besides,, waterboxer engines 'like' head gaskets about every 7 years or so
.....or every 80,000 miles or so.....
AMC heads tend to pinch the outerwater gasket .
if you have the orignal type VW heads - keep those..................I
recommend those for sure......over the AMC heads.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

I might just be very compelled to do an instructuional  DVD  one of these
days. ....like a video on the head gasket job .
And , it's better to  always have at least a a basic valve job  done by a
machine shop too - most exhasut valves are leaking some, I find.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Allan Streib" <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 10:00 AM
Subject: Re: [Fwd: [T2] H2O Vanagon part needed - pic included]

> If that part of the coolant system froze and split he may well have much
> bigger problems, if the water in the cylinder jackets and heads froze.
>
> Allan
> --
> 1991 Vanagon GL
>
> "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> said:
>
>> I have those, good ones, used, for sale.
>> it's a part you can't get new anymore is my understanding.
>> Scott
>> www.turbovans.com
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Greg Potts" <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 2:04 AM
>> Subject: [Fwd: [T2] H2O Vanagon part needed - pic included]
>>
>>
>> > Hi Volks,
>> >
>> > Remember a couple weeks back there was mention of a Vanagon on "Car
>> > Talk". Well, John needs more help....
>> >
>> > If someone has the part he needs, email busvwzen@yahoo.com , not me.
>> >
>> >
>> > Happy Trails,
>> >
>> > Greg Potts
>> > 1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
>> > 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
>> > www.busesofthecorn.com
>> > www.pottsfamily.ca
>> >
>> >
>> > -------- Original Message --------
>> > Subject: [T2] H2O Vanagon part needed - pic included
>> > Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:47:46 -0800 (PST)
>> > From: John Baker <busvwzen@yahoo.com>
>> > Reply-To: busvwzen@yahoo.com
>> > To: ovt <ohiovalleytribe@yahoogroups.com>, t2 <type2@type2.com>, cow
>> > <centralohiowesties@yahoogroups.com>
>> >
>> > Hey Y'all,
>> > The subzero temps here in Ohio cuase the "H" shaped coolant pipe on my
>> > 85 Vanagon to freeze and split.  Now looking to buy one or trade parts
>> > for one.  If you are looking down into the engine compartment, the
>> > piece
>> > is just to the right of the coolant tank.  Anyone have one for sale??
>> > Here's a picture if that helps:
>> > http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/516128.jpg
>> >
>> > PEACE!
>> > John Baker
>> >
>> >
>> > "...So we got in the red VW microbus with the
>> > shovels and rakes and implements of destruction and headed on toward
>> > the
>> > police officer's station..."
>>