Ditto on the comment about hoses that run the hottest, on all cars..like
upper radiator hoses on front engine cars, or , for example..the hose
coming off the forward end of the right cylinder head on 1.9 wbr's,
or the  heater hose coming off the forward end of diesel vanagon heads -
those love to split eventually.

The only hose or cooling system that especially comes to mind on 2WD
waterboxers in my mind,  is the coolant Distribution tower.
Those just crumble in my experience ...often where a heater hose is
attached.
same for plastic t-stat housing on 2.1's ..they distort and warp
eventually.

Your used rad sounds like it's worth trying at least Neil.

Scott

On 1/6/2014 11:57 AM, mark drillock wrote:
> I have installed lots of slightly used Vanagon radiators. Back when
> Vanagons were more common at the junkyards it was easy to tell which
> ones had recently new ones. If one was only a few years old I would buy
> it. The date stamp tells the tale.
>
> As for hoses you are well served to replace the ones that attach to the
> hottest places of the engine. Most of the others last and last.
>
> Mark
>
> Neil N wrote:
>> Thanks Robert and Tom.
>>
>> Hey Scott. I bought this used radiator knowing it might be no better,
>> or worse, than the radiator (likely original) currently in the '88
>> Westy. However. This Westy was sold to me as having 84,000 miles on
>> it. There is possible proof of this. (document is a photocopy) But I
>> think I see your point; the coolant, even if changed a few times would
>> leave deposits over time and clog the radiator passages? This van may
>> have sat unused for some time.
>>
>> A local mechanic suggested that there's are a few old coolant hoses
>> that should be replaced sooner than later. Same for the coolant
>> distribution tower. It may have a slight weep. I figured I might
>> replace those parts, flush-replace coolant and install the used
>> radiator all at the same time.
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>>
>