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Phishman068
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 2002
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8412
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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 Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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| Phishman068 wrote: |
| …I wouldn't be spending time making them by hand given how good and easy the gowesty ones are. |
I did though, because I have plenty of time…AND I’m cheap. 
- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8462
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 10:28 am Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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| Phishman068 wrote: |
I've installed about ten sets of the Gowesty ones. They fit great, easy to install- absolutely great.
I wouldn't be spending time making them by hand given how good and easy the gowesty ones are. |
The driver's side is good, but required slight modification to fit correctly. The passenger side required quite a bit of modification to fit right. The bottom one was totally useless on my '90. IMHO, they're a waste of money for the late-model vans that have A/C.
When I removed the condenser, the side baffles went with it and I made a new bottom baffle since my old DIY version no longer covered the entire width.
_________________
~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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?Waldo?
Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 10024
Location: Where?
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 10:48 am Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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| For one of my Vanagons, I made a set out of coroplast political signs that were left over after the voting was done. They have lasted better than the stock/replacement cardboard. |
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Kdj
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2017
Posts: 276
Location: Naptown
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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| dhaavers wrote: |
| Phishman068 wrote: |
| …I wouldn't be spending time making them by hand given how good and easy the gowesty ones are. |
I did though, because I have plenty of time…AND I’m cheap.
- Dave |
What he said 
Plus I like making things. Nothing against our great suppliers, but this was a no brainer no cost repair. Plus I got to do a little crafting. |
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squeegee_boy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2008
Posts: 786
Location: Langley, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 11:04 am Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
IMHO, they're a waste of money for the late-model vans that have A/C.
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Yeah, when I added AC to my 84 (using GWs condenser) I had to leave out the GW side baffles entirely, they just did not fit anymore
It didn't affect cooling performance at all though, so I haven't bothered with a replacement
The bottom GW is still in place and works great.
Robyn
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1984 FrankenSyncro Westy. EJ25 RMW kit |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10227
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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Another baffled area that some may be doing without is the backside of the grille.
The original cardboard eventually succumbs to rain but a replacement set from election signs is easy and durable.
No idea if they help but given where I live and travel I'll do anything that VW thought was good. |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8462
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
| Phishman068 wrote: |
| I've installed about ten sets of the Gowesty ones. They fit great, easy to install- absolutely great. |
The bottom one was totally useless on my '90. |
FWIW, here's a photo of GoWesty's bottom baffle vs. mine (A/C version):
GoWesty's would not fit with my van's factory-original A/C condenser; no way, no how (unless modified). I stuck my DIY version back in. When I removed the condenser, GoWesty's still wouldn't fit properly to cover the entire gap, thus made a new, revised DIY version.
_________________
~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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Backtotheeightiesagain
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2023
Posts: 140
Location: Uk
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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I found strips of reinforced rubber.
Normally used to make cam belts.
Probably rigid workshop rubber flooring similar.
Pattern and sharp knife and it's done. Jigsaw cutter if really tough. |
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pbrown
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008
Posts: 496
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2025 9:51 pm Post subject: Re: Radiator card board deflectors |
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I have had the GoWesty version in my van for years. They've held up great. I did have to modify it when I upgraded to the crossflow AC condenser. I would recommend.
_________________
Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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