Converting a Vanagon from Air Cooled to Water Cooled

[AndyBees]

Is there a Thread on changing an Air-cooled Vanagon to a Water Cooled?

Or, has anyone been brave enough to take on such a challenge? If so, could you share your experience?
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[pioneer1]

Hi: just to get the discussion started-there is a lot written in the Subaru-Vanagon conversion group. Many air cooled owners want to get a Subaru engine and that requires coolant.
This basically involves installing all the coolant lines to the front of the bus where you install a rad.
Of course when you change engines,there will be wiring harness changes as well.
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"Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"

'85 Porsche 911 Targa

'76 Westfalia project

[87Enterprise]

I have seen this mentioned before but have found no real information. Some of the conversion shops talk about air to water, so if someone on here is going to do it, please pictures and say what you did and how as I have an 81 camper wanting!

[dreweast]

Hey,
I'm actually in the process of finishing this very project up on my 81 Westy (converted to water cooled to appease the Subaru EJ22).

You can find some info on the subaruvanagon site, and just cruising around some custom vw van build links. I opted to use a front fill rad instead of the traditional vanagon cooling system. So far it has been pretty straight forward although I still just finishing it up so I can't say it is working yet, it just looks pretty.

For the coolant lines, i used marine hydraulic hose (shieldflex embedded with wire) although people also use the metal, plastic, or stainless vanagon coolant pipes, a few custom bleed screws, a rad out of a 2001 KIA sportage and a vanagon rad fan and cowl.

Good luck with your project!

peace

[Vanagon Nut]

Yes.

Search my handle and you should find various posts on the air to water swap I did.

I wrote up some pages/posted images here on my old website

http://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/15degreeengineconversion

Generally speaking it's not rocket surgery. Except for cutting a hole up front, mostly a bolt up affair to add the stock Vanagon water cooled parts.

Neil.
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"VW gas I4 Conversions" Google Group is being shut down.

1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[AndyBees]

Wow! Thanks for the input/comments. I knew right up front that it would not be an impossible task and that surely several people have done such a conversion.

I like the 2.0 Air-cool engine. In many ways, it is bullet proof if maintained properly. As my signature indicates, I've laid down a lot of "on the road" miles in an Air-cooled 2.0 Vanagon. But, in my opinion, it is very limited to improvements. The tranny that comes in the Air-cool model is a good choice for up-grading to taller 3rd and 4th gears.
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[Captain Pike]

I did it to a 80 in 92. Diesel doner to air trans. Nice power and your 3/4 slider doesn't blow up.
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LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

[Vanagon Nut]

[AndyBees]

The link on the 15 degree has good info!

Neil, that's really a good write-up and photos!

Thanks
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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[Captain Pike]

[Vanagon Nut]

You're welcome Andybees.

Bill: "burn fest" ? Sounds like fun. Big soldering iron to melt holes for heater core nipples?

Andybees: My '81 has the fresh air fan. It accepted a heater core, (had nipple knockouts). Deleted the diverter, brazed up foot flaps. Rudimentary, but fine. I suggest finding a WBX heat box, rebuild flaps and replace fan. I think it should plumb into an '80 w/o fan.

Can't imagine doing my swap w/o internet. Woulda taken me fargin YEARS.

Neil.
_________________
"VW gas I4 Conversions" Google Group is being shut down.

1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[reluctantartist]

I am sorry to see you go the way of water cooling. You are one I refer to when people question the reliability of the Aircooled vanagon. Anyway I hope the conversion goes well. I read about some people placing the radiator under the van instead of upfront on bay water cooled conversions. There would be a lot of space to do it on a vanagon.

Wishing you a very straight forward conversion.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

[AndyBees]