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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5251
Location: denver
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 Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:05 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| Captain Pike wrote: |
I scalped mine. 3 coats of marine grade fiberglass epoxy. Rated for 5 years salt emersion. Turned it sorta yellow tho......
Yes, those are indeed Vanagon seats in the 181. |
That van looks like it's ready for serious post-apocalyptic business.
I got the parts in from VanCafe and replaced that crusty coolant flange with the metal version, swapped out the thermostat to oil cooler pipe, changed a couple of small hoses while I was in there, and added the GW alternator bracket.
The only photo I got was of my shitty Amazon hose clamp pliers after I'd thrown them down in disgust. The final gear tooth broke so they wouldn't compress and open the clamps all the way. Extremely frustrating in tight quarters with the little clamps on the oil cooler, but I made do with some channel locks.
However, I shouldn't complain--I got five years out of them.
The AC still doesn't work. It won't hold vacuum and I don't know where to even start looking for leaks. I thought I maybe heard a hiss from the condenser, but I'm not positive.
I've kinda given up on the AC for now and reverted to "this ain't hot. I'm from Louisiana--that's hot" mode.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15367
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:33 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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I use vice grips (of one profile of another) on those spring clamp nibs..
I can clamp down on them to the full open and then usually holds tight enough to wriggle and finnangle the clamp over the swollen rubber hose, or pull the hose off at that time..
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| Abscate wrote: |
| These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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mtnhome
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 614
Location: Summit County, CO
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| joetiger wrote: |
I've kinda given up on the AC for now and reverted to "this ain't hot. I'm from Louisiana--that's hot" mode. |
And here it's a dry heat, unlike the liquid heat in Louisiana...
_________________
'84 Westy, '93 Subaru ej22 and Subarugears 5speed
Build thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=763098&highlight= |
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2931
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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I stole this idea from somebody else on here, but I cut a groove about 1/4 up the lower jaw on a pair of standard channel lock pliers. The tab side of the clamp goes in the groove, squeeze the other side. Adjust the channel locks for size of clamp. WORKS GREAT.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5251
Location: denver
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:12 am Post subject: Re: Reviving a Tornado Red Carat |
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| mikemtnbike wrote: |
| I stole this idea from somebody else on here, but I cut a groove about 1/4 up the lower jaw on a pair of standard channel lock pliers. The tab side of the clamp goes in the groove, squeeze the other side. Adjust the channel locks for size of clamp. WORKS GREAT. |
On it! Thanks for the tip.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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