radiator flow rate

[ALIKA T3]

Aloha all!

you might be interested in these pictures of my radiator autopsy



For our European friend, apparently you guys have the Mahle/Behr/Hella radiator too butmade in China.
I spoke to my friend in France who imports and buys NOS parts from all over and makes a few underground repros like the 094 5 speed 2WD shifter.
He can`t find the RSA made radiators, pictures also look a bit different than what we have from RSA here in the USA.
He`s had quite a few bad ones straight out of the box, so that inspired me to open a particularly bad radiator I had on hand.
The engine would run a tad hot under 50MPH but after driving fast it would never come down and temps kept climbing....

I wonder if the production is starting to shift from RSA to China for these, that would suck....


For info the part number for this radiator is 068121253E and it was made by Behr too I believe, and in Germany.

The letter D was made by AKG also in Germany, they`re easily recognizable as their fins are copper and the bottom is steel, the clamp flat bars are stainless.
The E letter radiator appeared when vw must have switched suppliers in 1985/1986. They are identical in dimensions and specs.

Left tank ( driver side) 025121573

You will notice that the inner parts have their own VW part numbers, and you won`t find them anywhere. My guess is they wera made by separate suppliers and assembled by the last manufacturer, so maybe they were only used internally for stosk management purposes?
Not the first time I run into secret VW part numbers, the tunnel Ac evaporator housing has the black plastic parts numbered like this too for the fans, same with the side cover square spacers. All glued and not serviceable, so they were never meant to be replaced.
Strange eh?

The part numbers are in 068, makes sense as the diesel type 2`s were the first watercooled Vanagons.
The right side tank ( passenger side) 068121572, logically.
They must have introduced some modifications at some point as the left tank is 025121573., 025 is WBX. There used to be a special radiator for hot climates, 025121253A So they probably made one that had all features with the last revision model 068121253E
Notice the border to divide the right tank. As you may know, the radiator flows supply and return from the same ide, passenger side.
It enters hot the vertical connection, goes up to the bleeding screw, goes left, goes down , goes right and exists from the angle connection cold to the engine.

The tank gasket is 068121539A. The 2 little bridges can break loose sometimes. I had found pieces stick next to the thermoswitch hole once, not knowing what they were....

The silicone cemetery who the heavy handed silicone plasterers out there

The top and bottom bars are the same, stamped with the radiator part number 068121253E

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is called quality inspection: 1 corner out of 4 got a quick brazing fix for probably a good reason.

Other corners don`t have it:

I hope you like it!

Keep it cool
_________________
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Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
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