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benbear1122 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006 Posts: 225
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 12:40 pm Post subject: air cooled vanagon Heat exchangers |
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Can Heat Exchangers be replaced on a 1981 vanagon without removing the engine? |
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82westyrabbit Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2015 Posts: 793 Location: Ma
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: air cooled vanagon Heat exchangers |
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Yes |
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benbear1122 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006 Posts: 225
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: air cooled vanagon Heat exchangers |
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Is it an easy job to do? |
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MarkWard Samba Member

Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 13810 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: air cooled vanagon Heat exchangers |
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Till a stud snaps off on the exhaust port. Start soaking all the fasteners with PB blaster. _________________ 1982 Vanagon Camper with ALH TDI.
1990 Vanagon Camper Syncro.
In Car https://youtu.be/5hbfdUJR88Q |
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Wildthings Samba Member

Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 44450
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: air cooled vanagon Heat exchangers |
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If they haven't been off in a long while it would pay to have an Oxy-Act torch on hand. Even a mini Oxy-Act torch would do. You don't need much heat, but it needs to get the nuts to a cherry red. |
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82westyrabbit Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2015 Posts: 793 Location: Ma
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: air cooled vanagon Heat exchangers |
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Like Mark says it’s easy until you brake a stud. There only four bolts that hold them to the cylinder head and three they hold them to the rest of the exsust and probably one piece of tin to remove. I would not attempt the job with out heat (oxy-acetylene). So not hard but with out the right tools it would not be easy. John |
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Prof. P Samba Member

Joined: January 26, 2011 Posts: 40 Location: Iowa City, Iowa
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2020 1:49 am Post subject: Re: air cooled vanagon Heat exchangers |
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MarkWard wrote: |
Till a stud snaps off on the exhaust port. Start soaking all the fasteners with PB blaster. |
^This!! I'm usually just a lurker, but having just finished going through the process of getting the broken nub of a stud off my 81. I do not discourage you from doing it, but patience is your key if things feel stuck. _________________ 1981 Tintop Vanagon, Camper conversion, "Margo" |
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