Hi Darrel, Thanks for the prompt reply.
My Bentley manual only covers to 1985, so probably I have misstated
something.  I just looked at the pipe again.  Here is a more complete
description.  It is located on the driver side of the engine compartment.
It connects to what I assume is the coolant pump with a flange, and also has
a smaller "t" leading from the coolant pressure tank.  It passes down and
runs parallel to the driver side valve cover gasket (toward the front of the
engine compartment).  It then leads up to a 6" piece of coolant hose, and
that rubber hose leads into a  housing that has four bolts on it (again I
was assuming that this was the thermostat).  It then disappears into the
forward area of the engine compartment.  There is another "t" that is
connected to the pipe just before it discharges into that 6 " piece of hose.
So it isn't exactly an "s" shape more like a "c" shape starting horizontally
and ending vertically.  I apologize for my ignorance here, and should have
probably called it the "mystery coolant pipe".

I hope it is appropriate to address this to the whole list.

Thanks again
Jeff Hartman
-----Original Message-----
From: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@midwest.net>
To: Jeff and Deb <jeffndeb@GCI.NET>
Date: Sunday, August 15, 1999 1:06 PM
Subject: Re: coolant pipe

>Hi Jeff,
>    Every pipe on my 86 and 87 that attaches to the thermostat housing is a
>hose. excepting the housing is bolted to the left head.  Could you maybe
>have a syncro or am I missing something.
>Darrell
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Jeff and Deb <jeffndeb@GCI.NET>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Sunday, August 15, 1999 1:56 PM
>Subject: coolant pipe
>
>
>> On my way from Haines AK to the Canadian border, the coolant pipe on my
86
>> vanagon, leading into the thermostat, rusted through.  This is the "s"
>> shaped pipe that has a "T" that must distribute coolant to some other
>place
>> in the engine.  We were able to limp home with a temporary fix.   I am
>> looking for a vendor who could ship a replacement to Juneau.
>>
>> I am also looking for some instructions for installing the new pipe.
>>
>> Any suggestions?
>> Jeff Hartman
>> 2622 John St.
>> Juneau, AK 99801
>> jeffndeb@gci.net
>>
>