Just wanted to drop the list a note to say my front heater core project
which was helped along but some list members, is nearing completion.
I am having custom front heater cores made since the OEM front heater
cores are NLA as of six months or so ago and there has never been
an aftermarket source that I can find.  I tried Germany and they have
been out of stock for longer than we have.  Anyway if you are contemplating
doing the front heater core in your Vanagon any time soon I should have
them available after next week.  They are made completely out of
aluminum and
tig welded.  I will post pictures on my site when they are done and I
can take them.  They are going to be sellng for $575 each.  I know this
is expensive but
when you have to have something custom made it jacks the cost up.  I am
looking at an alternate supplier for them who may be able to do them
cheaper however
they would be made of copper and brass instead of aluminum and I am not
sure if Vanagon owners (I didn't say anything about you being "ultra
picky") would go
for those because of the copper/aluminum mix (even though a proper
antifreeze mix would stop any reaction).   If you are interested in
doing your core in the next
six months please get in the waiting list line for these.  We are going
to only be making runs of three at a time to keep our overheat low.
They will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

I just wanted to put this information out there.  There are still many
people out there who are unaware that they can't get the front heater
cores any more and take their whole heater box apart before they decide
to get a core only to find that they are out of luck.  Don't let this
happen to you.

Sincerely,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com