Re: Warren’s Conversion - Turning the Corner
I spoke with Mike at RMW this morning. ?Those front radiator hoses in fact cross over one another. ?The upper straight hose connects to the inner stainless pipe, whereas the lower hook-shaped radiator hose crosses over to the outside (passenger side) pipe. This is because the thermostat on the 2.1 was on the driver’s side, but the thermostat on the Subie engine is on the passenger side, hence the need to cross over. ?That had me puzzled for sure. ? I will post photos after I get them back on. ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Turning the Corner
Subaru coolant manifold out goes to rad in (horizontal). Rad out (down and out) goes to thermostat housing.
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Turning the Corner
I have a question about the RMW stainless coolant pipes (I’ll call them tomorrow, but for now any advice would be helpful). ?Their directions show that what they call the bleeder hose (I’m assuming the lower radiator hose) connects to the outer (passenger side) stainless pipe. ?Is this correct? ?If so, the inner bleeder hose and the passenger side return hose have to cross over one another. ?I must be missing something here. ?If you look at the photos, it appears the dirty brown hose in Figure 7 is attached to the outside (passenger side) pipe and the dark (new) upper radiator hose is connected to the inside pipe. ?They have to cross over in order to do this, which does not make sense to me. ?I must be getting something confused here. ?
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89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Turning the Corner
Totally agree it’s so nice to get stuff out of boxes on to the van?
Nice work?
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On Sun, Mar 16, 2025 at 10:23?AM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
So I finally got the two new radiator hoses installed and I was able to use the original spring clamps instead of the supplied screw clamps, but one was a bit difficult to get on, even using the special clamp pliers I purchased for the job. ?
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The radiator mount is back in place and I hope I’m done with that.
What’s important for me now is that I am actually installing parts instead of taking things off, so that’s turning a corner in my book. ?Although I still have a few things to remove in the engine area and need to install new boots on the shift lever at the transmission, I’m putting it back together, piece by piece, component by component. ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
|
Warren’s Conversion - Turning the Corner
So I finally got the two new radiator hoses installed and I was able to use the original spring clamps instead of the supplied screw clamps, but one was a bit difficult to get on, even using the special clamp pliers I purchased for the job. ?
?
The radiator mount is back in place and I hope I’m done with that.
What’s important for me now is that I am actually installing parts instead of taking things off, so that’s turning a corner in my book. ?Although I still have a few things to remove in the engine area and need to install new boots on the shift lever at the transmission, I’m putting it back together, piece by piece, component by component. ?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Cary, you were exactly right. There were two little clips holding the hinge bar in place. Popped those two off and it was easy to remove.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Great Idea!
I assume the U-bolts fit horizontally; any idea on the size? Or a picture?
Thanks, Rick
On Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 11:39:15 PM CDT, Wayne Sitarz via groups.io <wesitarz@...> wrote:
Get rid of the bars and put two U-bolts into those hinges? to drop the clamshell down to fit a larger than stock spare.
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Wayne, that’s similar to what the previous owner did on my bus. ?Near the coolant tower in the back, there was a long bit of thick rubber hose (Gates I think) extended over the coolant pipe. It never leaked even though when I pulled it all apart it was clear that the metal insert was almost falling out.  --
Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Get rid of the bars and put two U-bolts into those hinges? to drop the clamshell down to fit a larger than stock spare.
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
I slipped marine exhaust hose over the ends further on from the metal ends and double clamped them with no problems.
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
It may be way but because its so shiny I am replacing things I would have otherwise lived with. I ordered a bunch of sensors at the dealer, the coolant bypass pipe, most of the hoses I changed to silicone on the intake, its been fun? and expensive?
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Wow. ?That is going to be nice! ?That’s an A+ way to do it. ?I’m envious!
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Wow. ?That is going to be nice! ?That’s an A+ way to do it. ?I’m envious!
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Yes sir. I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter.
I had the heads rebuilt with new exhaust valves new seals and all new springs and then decked?
Fingers crossed for reliable?
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On Sat, Mar 15, 2025 at 7:14?PM SubieVanagon via groups.io <wklail@...> wrote:
John is that a brand new short block you’re building? ?Nice!
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
My Vanagon is essentially a shell right now; no engine, no transmission, no fuel tank, no coolant lines, no wiring harness, etc. ?However, today was the first day that I felt like I was putting something together rather than just continuing to tear it down. ?A small thing, but very rewarding, was when I affixed one new radiator hose. ?It was a tight fit and I had to spray everything down with windex to get it on. ?But one hose is installed!?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
In order to get to the radiator hoses, one can simply lower the spare tire clamshell, remove the tire, and get to them. ?However, they terminate (meet the coolant pipes) in a sort of awkward place, so I decided to remove the clamshell. ?It turns out that, at least on mine, there were two circlip type things involved. Once I removed them, it was just a matter of prying out on the metal “hinge pins” I would call them and then it was out. ?Much easier to get to everything after that.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Not without some grunting and groaning, I managed to remove the radiator hoses and the long plastic coolant pipes in preparation for installing the RMW stainless pipes. ?I pulled one pipe out intact but I just used a multi-tool to cut the other one into smaller pieces. ?I will admit, those original VW plastic pipes were made of some heavy duty thick material. ?I can’t imagine one failing any place other than the ends, where those metal pieces routinely work their way out of the pipe. ?Mines were barely there. ?It’s a wonder I didn’t get stranded somewhere far from home!
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
I got the vent tank grommets from RMW and installed them. ?Some folks have reported having a difficult time installing them, but I used a tiny bit of silicone grease around the opening and a tiny smear on the grommet itself and pushed them in. ?Pretty straightforward.?
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
John is that a brand new short block you’re building? ?Nice!
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
If I remember correctly, the clamshell bars are each held in place by a single clip at the lower end, next to the clamshell hinges hinges. The other ends of the bars stick into the crossmember.
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Re: Warren’s Conversion - Clutch and Pressure Plate, Fuel Tank Refresh, and Coolant Pipes
Sounds good John. ?I sent you a text.
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Warren
89 Westy?
88 Tintop
70 Westy
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