Van Wankel coolant upgrades and transaxle R&R

[truckersmike]

After a summer of driving Van Wankel all over town and back and forth to work, it was time to really tear into it and replace the cooling system and resolve some tranny issues. I'm looking for advise on the best way to proceed on a few items.

First, new stainless steal coolants lines are on their way, along with tons of other parts. The diesel radiator is leaking so I picked up a good used one from an 85. I know it will need some modifications but I'm having a hard time sourcing a fan shroud. I was wondering if there was a way to mount the diesel fan shroud onto it? Also, the homemade piping system in the engine compartment is pretty rusty. Any suggestions on how to reroute hoses to the steal lines?

Besides oil leaking out of the side gears, I pulled the tranny because the van developed a significant clutch chatter issue. I thought that oil was getting on the clutch but it seems pretty dry with no sign of a rear main seal or tranny output shaft leak. The KEP stage 2 clutch still looks brand new and both the surface of the clutch face and flywheel look ok to me. The disc does have some markings but I'm not sure how to read it. My worry is that the chatter is not in the clutch but in the tranny. What are some things I should look for? And how smooth should the throwout shaft move? Mine feels like it's dragging the entire way.

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59 DD panel. Former Romano's TV delivery bus
67 Westy SO-42 pop-t

[jimf909]

Where's the popcorn eating emoticon? Already this is a candidate for thread of the month.
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- Jim

[Xevin]

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Keep on Busin'

[mikemtnbike]

I can’t really help with the shroud or clutch questions but I’ll give my thoughts on your hoses, pipes to bump your thread.

Since your setup is so unique, I’d suggest trying to duplicate it. A custom exhaust shop could bend the pipes and some place like national hose could do the other fittings. I’m not really sure about that piece with the pressure cap on it; I’d either reuse that one or take a picture and do an image search for a replacement.
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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

[82westyrabbit]

That fly wheel looks like it has gotten hot. I have put a lot worse back together but with the high reving 13B that might be your problem. Looking at your cooling hoses front to back it looks to me like you could run standard 83.5 or newer cooling pipes. The heavy duty rubber cooling hoses that a previous owner put in might not need replacing but I would check them out carefully now that they are out. My van still has the 82 diesel radiator in it. I prefer it but if it ever lets lose I keep the new stile lower radiator brackets in my van so I can up date the radiator if needed. Some times the 82 radiator can be rebuilt I did mine once. If you already have the newer parts that’s probably a better way to go. Hopefully some of this will be useful. John

[truckersmike]

[truckersmike]

[82westyrabbit]

The flywheel is heat checked around the other edges. Like I said I have put worse back together. My comment on the 13B is not to talk about how you drive just that that engine doesn’t have a lot of low end toque so you might need a few more RPM’s to get it moving. That would be a little harder on the clutch. Your stainless steel pipes should work great. Your van started life as a 82 diesel right. You are better off if you didn’t get the diesel pipes but it should work either way. I had my radiator recorded in the 90’s and sent it to get checked and pressure checked about three years ago. It keeps going like the energizer bunny. I collected all the parts to install a newer radiator when that day comes. If you have purchased the parts to do that I would keep going with plan A. I know radiator fan shrouds are different but I think you could make the old one work on the new radiator but I haven’t done it myself yet just held it up against the new stile radiator. John

[truckersmike]

Spent a lot more time scoping and cleaning the flywheel area. Though the flywheel surface felt dry, there is a ring of black goo on the outer edge that contains fibers (I assume from the disc). So at least some oil is getting in there. Then I checked the bell housing of the transaxle and it is a little shinny with some oil but but I wouldn't say it's a massive leak. The throwout bearing seems to be dragging on the shaft and the clutch lever will not return on its own because of it. I'm going to replace the seal and the throwout bearing and maybe that will help.

The tip of the output shaft is a little scared so I looked into the input side and I either have a destroyed needle bearing or this kit just has a bushing. I'm guessing this kit is from Kennedy so I'm going to call them tomorrow. Perhaps this is the cause of the chatter.
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59 DD panel. Former Romano's TV delivery bus
67 Westy SO-42 pop-t

[82westyrabbit]

I forgot about the pilot bearing. I change those every time the transmission is out. I have had those ruin my in put shaft twice. It will be interesting to see if you have the stock pilot bearing or if they need to come up with something special for your conversation. John

[valvecovergasket]

[Zeitgeist 13]

That's got to be one of the most bizarre swaps out there. It's kinda like putting a Hayabusa engine in a Hummer.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[4Gears4Tires]

[truckersmike]

[truckersmike]

[4Gears4Tires]

It's a great motor. I had an RX8 with the 13b renesis and it was a very enjoyable car to drive. Much like a Syncro, the transmission was where it was hamstrung. But the motor? Zoom-zoom. I loved that riding the wave feeling of constantly increasing power to redline.

I bet your van is an absolute hoot to drive.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[truckersmike]

[Xevin]

You asked about upgrades. 12A?? A 13B is meh. Apex “Seals” stuff you already know about. Man, I want your engine combo to work well.
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Keep on Busin'

[4Gears4Tires]

12a? Lame.

20b.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[Xevin]