Kate,

You will find the thermostat in the left front of the engine, under the
plastic cover of the plastic housing that bolts to the front of the left
head (run on sentence?).  I just changed this on an 86 and my 91.  In both
cases, the 4 bolts that hold the cover on were  corroded to the point that
the 10 mm. hex had been reduced to about 9.25 mm..  In both cases, I had to
remove the housing from the head in order to get the 4 bolts out.  Of
course, the 2 Allen head bolts that hold the housing to the head were so
corroded that I had to use vice grips from below to get them out.  Be
prepared to drink some anti freeze while you are at it.  You will need 4
O-rings to complete the job. Two of one P/N for the sender units, one that
seals the housing to the head, and one for the thermostat.  I would
recommend that you replace both senders at this time because they are not
too expensive and you don't want to have to do this job very often.  You may
have to remove the senders and read the part numbers from them in order to
get the correct ones.  I also used anti seize compound on all of the bolts
when I put them back in.

I hope this doesn't sound too negative, but you should be prepared for a
tougher and longer job than you would expect.  Good luck.

Walt Spak
Pittsburgh,  Pa.
wnsopc3@3rdm.net
----- Original Message -----
From: Kate McLaughlin <KateMacMac@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 1999 10:55 AM
Subject: Where's the Thermostat?

> S.O.S.
>   Help  Please...I need Help....
>    OK, I thought this was going to be easy.  I have my fun filled Haynes
> manual and I was all set to do the thermostat.  It sounded easy in the
> book...Too easy. Well I can't find the Thermostat.  Yes laugh now but I
> tell you I can't find the thing.  I  have an 86 Vanagon GL.  According
> to the book it appears to be on the top part of the engine, and there is
> a coolant hose running directly to the thermostat from the coolant
> tank.  Well the book shows the coolant lines running over everything.
> Mine seems to go under everything and make a sharp left turn. Stella is
> going to give me gray hair and I'm only 25!!!
>    I've read easier maps in the military, and those things aren't all
> that great.  Then again I did get lost.
>
>
> S.O.S.
>
> Peace, Love, and Granola
>
> Kate