When coming South from Alaska once in 1995, I encountered a German
couple in Whitehorse, Yukon, CA who were on tour in North America. They
had flown in from Germany to Mexico City and purchased a VW bus just for
this trip of a life time. To me, the bus looked to be about a '72 to a
'78 model, but it was definitely a water cooled bus, not air cooled. It
had a radiator stuck on the front, with a cowling or fairing around it
to give it some kine of aerodynamic effect and to clean it up a bit, and
the engine was definitely watercooled engine. In this case an upright
inline 4 banger. Just what the designation was I don't know but it was
something like what would be found in a Golf or similar. Gasoline, and
not diesel. Now my encounter with the good German folk was in 1995, and
that bus had been in  production for a while before I ran into it, and
has been in production ever since. What this means to travelers into
Mexico is that you should encounter these vans everywhere. There has
been 15 years plus of production being spread across Mexico, so they
should be out there, mixed with the earlier aircooled models. So if
youare travelig down there, and your Vanagon is an aircooled or one
converted to an upright inline four Gemrna engine, then in all likely
hood you will be able to find support for the engine at least, while you
are on tour. As for the Vanagons with the water cooled WBX'er - I doubt
there would be much support anywhere. Nor for the rest of the vehicle
either.

Just my take.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Tieitup wrote:
> Goood Morning all you early birds and worms alike, it's friday, a beautiful
> cool day. I smell good for once and I have a debating question.
> Air or Water.
>
> I have owned a 88 Westy for 3 Years, broke down a few times. always having
> to do with water or air.
>
> You all sent me a few links for research in South Americas and I noticed
> almost everyone who travels continents is air cooled.
>
> I love my 88 Westy for so many reasons.
>     It's dependable.
>     It's expandable
>     It's laasting
>     It's tested
>
>
> So air or water? i'm leaning towards the air and busses you really can't
> find the westy too much, popping always like I do.
>
> possibly i'll buy a bus but what, don't be pissed b/c its air cooled. pull
> the rose out of your ass and smoke it amigo.
>
>
> I have a great old VW parts yard in Austin, from Austin Veedub. They have
> parts so possibly, I could make my own kitchen.
>
>
>
> Rambleing it's friday, see if you can make an sense of this.
>
> @dam
>
>
>