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hurleymobile
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2021
Posts: 33
Location: Fayetteville, NC
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 Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 1:09 pm Post subject: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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Samba family, I'm at a loss. Trying to upgrade my coolant system with all new hoses and pipes, but I can't for the life of me figure out which system I have! I'm seeing 1.9 manual and 2.1 manual/auto kits on bus depot and gowesty, but I was so sure I have a 1.9 auto trans. Any advice is appreciated!
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1984 VW Vanagon 1.9 L automatic |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3581
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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1.9 has the smaller 1 1/4" pipes, steel, underneath the vehicle.
2.1 has the larger, 1.5" plastic pipes.
We have an 1.9, Auto, and bought our Stainless Steel Pipe kit from Van Cafe.
If you buy the larger 2.1 pipes for an early WBX Vanagon, the body holes that the pipes run in would have to be enlarged to handle the larger diameter pipes, since they were originally made for the smaller pipes at the time. But, the 1.9 radiator hoses are a hard to find item from what I hear, so some people install the larger/late model 1.5" pipes, to gain easier to find 2.1 Radiator Hoses in the future. Read the Below Link, Van Cafe spells it out for you. 
https://vancafe.com/stainless-coolant-pipes-1-25-83-84-1-9l-diesel-82-thru-91-not-for-tdi/
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'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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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50348
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2023 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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Photos would help.
More than likely you have what is original for your model year, but there are always exceptions. My 83 1/2 has a 2.1L cooling system on the engine but still uses the original 83 1/2 cooling pipes and hoses running to the front. |
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hurleymobile
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2021
Posts: 33
Location: Fayetteville, NC
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| Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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| jlrftype7 wrote: |
1.9 has the smaller 1 1/4" pipes, steel, underneath the vehicle.
2.1 has the larger, 1.5" plastic pipes.
We have an 1.9, Auto, and bought our Stainless Steel Pipe kit from Van Cafe.
If you buy the larger 2.1 pipes for an early WBX Vanagon, the body holes that the pipes run in would have to be enlarged to handle the larger diameter pipes, since they were originally made for the smaller pipes at the time. But, the 1.9 radiator hoses are a hard to find item from what I hear, so some people install the larger/late model 1.5" pipes, to gain easier to find 2.1 Radiator Hoses in the future. Read the Below Link, Van Cafe spells it out for you.
https://vancafe.com/stainless-coolant-pipes-1-25-83-84-1-9l-diesel-82-thru-91-not-for-tdi/ |
This explains it perfectly! I really appreciate you spelling it out for me. So even though it's better to upgrade to the 2.1, larger/late model 1.5" pipes (which would just require some enlarging of holes on the body to fit), would that still be possible with a 1.9 engine?
Also I was thinking it might be better to upgrade to the 2.1 pipes since I only can find hoses for the 2.1 auto trans (for example: https://www.busdepot.com/hosekit7) and not the 1.9 auto trans. Thoughts?
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1984 VW Vanagon 1.9 L automatic |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4351
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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| hurleymobile wrote: |
Also I was thinking it might be better to upgrade to the 2.1 pipes since I only can find hoses for the 2.1 auto trans (for example: https://www.busdepot.com/hosekit7) and not the 1.9 auto trans. Thoughts? |
The auto / trans coolant pipe is a known major fail point. Many here have found alternative options to having any possible cross contamination of Trans fluid and engine coolant. Further, there are a lot of people expressing major doubts that the auto trans needs any cooling at all, especially if you are a stock engine rig, not over loaded, nor trying to do crazy stuff like towing a trailer. So, find out how to get rid of the pipes that do the weird crossing of coolant and trans fluid. I'll see if I can find a good read on it for ya.
I'll clip an example optional cooler in here when I remember where it is... Just a little billet aluminum heat sink with fittings for the front of your trans.
Here's the one I was thinking of, but its out of stock ATM...
http://www.germantransaxle.com/VW-Vanagon-3-speed-...mp;id=1376
And here is a reply to my questions to RMW / VC, from Mike Evans regarding how to get away from the problem with the Trans fluids mixing into the coolant:
The best way to do this is to update to the later coolant tower junction. Here are the links:
https://www.vancafe.com/251121438B-p/251121438b.htm
https://www.vancafe.com/KT-1982103-p/kt-1982103.htm
If you go with the stainless version you will not need this hose, but with the plastic version it is a necessity:
https://www.vancafe.com/251121130B-p/251121130b.htm
https://www.vancafe.com/251121130BSIL-p/251121130bsil.htm
You will need to replace the hose that has the branch on it to cooler that runs from the thermostat housing to the coolant transfer pipe:
https://www.vancafe.com/025121062E-p/025121062e.htm
https://www.vancafe.com/025121062ESIL-p/025121062esil.htm
That should do it. I think this is a far better way of eliminating the cooler than just using an adapter to join the two cooler lines together.
Thank you. We appreciate your business.
Mike Evans
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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ALIKA T3
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Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 6356
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Bulli Klinik
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2005
Posts: 2079
Location: Bulli Klinik, Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 7:48 am Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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I installed the stainless, 1.5” lines in my 85 w a 1.9. Do they make the hoses which go from the bleeder unit to the firewall with a 1.5” opening on the firewall side where it connects to the stainless pipe? I currently have a reducer/adapter at that connection.
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I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
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Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3581
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 8:33 am Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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| hurleymobile wrote: |
| jlrftype7 wrote: |
1.9 has the smaller 1 1/4" pipes, steel, underneath the vehicle.
2.1 has the larger, 1.5" plastic pipes.
We have an 1.9, Auto, and bought our Stainless Steel Pipe kit from Van Cafe.
If you buy the larger 2.1 pipes for an early WBX Vanagon, the body holes that the pipes run in would have to be enlarged to handle the larger diameter pipes, since they were originally made for the smaller pipes at the time. But, the 1.9 radiator hoses are a hard to find item from what I hear, so some people install the larger/late model 1.5" pipes, to gain easier to find 2.1 Radiator Hoses in the future. Read the Below Link, Van Cafe spells it out for you.
https://vancafe.com/stainless-coolant-pipes-1-25-83-84-1-9l-diesel-82-thru-91-not-for-tdi/ |
This explains it perfectly! I really appreciate you spelling it out for me. So even though it's better to upgrade to the 2.1, larger/late model 1.5" pipes (which would just require some enlarging of holes on the body to fit), would that still be possible with a 1.9 engine?
Also I was thinking it might be better to upgrade to the 2.1 pipes since I only can find hoses for the 2.1 auto trans (for example: https://www.busdepot.com/hosekit7) and not the 1.9 auto trans. Thoughts? |
I removed the stock VW cooler and installed the GoWesty Automatic Cooler Kit. ATF Fluid always looks healthy and red when checked, so it seems to be doing its job.. 
There are other coolers out there, and some people just delete and run without.
You don't have to upgrade to the larger pipes as noted. These hose adapters allow you to connect smaller 1.25" pipes to larger 1.5" hoses. Or, you go the SS 1.5" pipe route, you have choices... 
https://vancafe.com/hose-adapter/
_________________
'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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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3581
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 8:34 am Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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| ALIKA T3 wrote: |
| Late 85 had the 38mm (1.5") plastic pipes btw. |
Thanks for that, yet another late '85 quirk?....
_________________
'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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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 6356
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 10:31 am Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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Yes the inner diameter is the same between stock steel pipes and plastic pipes.
The SS 1.5" have a bigger inner diameter than stock.
The late 85 hoses were indeed 1.5" in the engine bay. VanCafé sells them in silicone, you just need a reducer insert from Gates if you have the stock 32mm steel pipes (or smaller stainless 1.25" pipes).
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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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Last edited by ALIKA T3 on Fri May 26, 2023 11:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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VicVan
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1845
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Fri May 26, 2023 2:48 pm Post subject: Re: what coolant system do I have? 1.9 or 2.1? |
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Adding to Bobby's post, the heat sink cooler is actually made by FAS.
http://www.foreignautosupply.com/parts-accessories/1-vanagon-transmission-cooler/
Out of stock on their website as well. But they are the ones making it, so give them a call to see when the new batch is coming!
Also, if you're getting rid of the ATF/coolant heat exchanger, as suggested above, you can choose coolant hoses for manual gearbox. As far as I know, the only difference between the Auto and Manual hoses is the connection to the cooler.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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