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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4715 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 2:45 pm Post subject: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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just received my Tank from Van Cafe, bought with the 10% off from their recent sale. i just have to post some photos of this piece of beautiful industrial art.
first, the whole assemblege is really well executed. the welds are gorgeous with penetration to the interior, thread locker/sealant used on the fittings, every single aspect of this meets Phaedrus' concept of Quality.
some particulars... notice the cap neck. it ain't your typical radiator stamped sheet metal. it is solid aluminum. welded on the inside.
then there's the curves, oh those voluptuous radiused curves. this wasn't done by a hack with a sheet metal brake set for crisp 90 degree bends on 22 ga. thought was put into clearance to allow the aluminum to bend on it's own will without cracking. fittings are, well, fit for race duty.
and lastly, the Tank is signed sealed and serialed! a friggin serial number on the tank, engraved by hand. gotta love it. and oh yeah, those brackets should hold, eh?
i'm a cheap SOB. killed me to spend this much on a $17 tank. but it is so robust, well made, beautifully crafted that it actually makes me happy. it was worth the considerable cost. congrats RMW, ya did good. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7893 Location: Arizona
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7402 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Great pics and review. This is typical of my experience with RMW (with their bumpers and swing-outs). The bumpers are solid, but their effort shines through on more complex things like the swing-outs. They are expensive but I’m beyond satisfied after using them for two years. I only wish they expanded their offering. Perhaps a kit to add over-the-transmission and in-floor storage, a high-top roof rack, etc. (but I’ve already bolted too much stuff on). _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32433 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 3:36 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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That's indeed industrial art - beautiful. I also installed one of their coolant towers years ago and it met the same high standards. _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4715 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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prior to receiving it, i was fretting about the fit of the Stant cap thinking that was one good thing about the Blau, well other than it blowing off unexpectedly... so many twist caps just mush onto their flanges, maybe catching the plastic or brass neck or maybe not. this baby just turns and locks. done. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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Gnarlodious Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013 Posts: 2312 Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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DanHoug wrote: |
it is solid aluminum |
“Billet metal” is the appropriate term. _________________ Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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DanHoug Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 4715 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Gnarlodious wrote: |
DanHoug wrote: |
it is solid aluminum |
“Billet metal” is the appropriate term. |
right. i always appreciate the correct term. it lead me down the rabbit hole of billet, cast, forged, etc. i see machining marks and so billet it is!
https://info.cpm-industries.com/blog/bid/283266/Cast-vs-Billet _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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VdubVanner Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017 Posts: 734 Location: Cowtown AB
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Next you'll be expounding about the merits and wonders of the fuel expansion tanks: https://www.vancafe.com/251201303C-ALUM-p/251201303c-alum.htm .
I've already got the stainless coolant tower -- after a brand new nylon one lasted 2 seconds before leaking -- and added that rock solid Tank as well. Beautiful works of art! _________________ "Fritz", a temperamental and unforgiving 1989 Westy that proudly bears his German flags and status as a member of the exclusive GoWesty Belly Flop Club.
1989 Westy Makeover: GoWesty 2.3L Engine plus plus plus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 3549 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Congratulations, you also got the updated level sensor with your tank.
The earlier version was prone to seeping coolant through its plastic body/ nut at the top( I changed mine out recently for this, and then discovered other Vanagon owners had run into it as well.)
The new version should stop that issue.
I got used to my Tank not being see-through really quick, just use the expansion /over flow tank as your visual cue.
The cap that ships with the Tank works very well at moving fluid back and forth like the stock set-up does in the siphon effect out of the overflow tank.
I also like how a regular coolant pressure tester is going to fit the Tank with no adapter needed. _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11998 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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As pretty as it is i would have it painted, coated or anodized to protect it, raw aluminum corrodes.
Do they coat it with clear of some kind?
Their work does look top notch. |
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Weezyissuperfast Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2014 Posts: 106 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 9:24 am Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Do they sell the updated low level sensor on its own? I’ve got an older one that I’d like to upgrade to the new sensor. |
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VdubVanner Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017 Posts: 734 Location: Cowtown AB
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Weezyissuperfast wrote: |
Do they sell the updated low level sensor on its own? I’ve got an older one that I’d like to upgrade to the new sensor. |
https://www.vancafe.com/025121403ALUMSENS-p/rmw-alts.htm
I carry a spare one since they aren't exactly easy to find on the road. I've got a spare cap as well -- but those are fairly common at FLAPS. _________________ "Fritz", a temperamental and unforgiving 1989 Westy that proudly bears his German flags and status as a member of the exclusive GoWesty Belly Flop Club.
1989 Westy Makeover: GoWesty 2.3L Engine plus plus plus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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Weezyissuperfast Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2014 Posts: 106 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Brilliant! Thanks! |
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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6378 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 11:22 am Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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I almost bought one the other day.
But it's so pretty it'd take all I got to avoid an engine rebuild to properly complement it. _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32433 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6378 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Haha, Ayep.
We may have one sooner than later since a shop used a German coolant after flushing, which we couldn't ever find again and had to top off with VW/Audi coolant when swapping the radiator.
Coolant is likely fine but ugly enough we may do another flush to pure VW coolant -- perfect time to add the new tank. I suspect mixing coolant is not optimum. _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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VdubVanner Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017 Posts: 734 Location: Cowtown AB
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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E1 wrote: |
I almost bought one the other day.
But it's so pretty it'd take all I got to avoid an engine rebuild to properly complement it. |
Well, you could always do it the other way around: Rebuild first and add the tank on at the end like so:
I finally gave up on plastic and nylon when there was a stronger alternative. _________________ "Fritz", a temperamental and unforgiving 1989 Westy that proudly bears his German flags and status as a member of the exclusive GoWesty Belly Flop Club.
1989 Westy Makeover: GoWesty 2.3L Engine plus plus plus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6378 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Rocky Mountain Westy "The Tank" |
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Too obvious. _________________ ‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
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