Finally a Vanagon in the family!

[Chris W.]

Just brought home an 84 GL It has 169K, the body is straight, and best of all the Wife (and kids) love it! It runs like a champ, so we'll be able

to drive it while gathering up all the necessary goodies to convert it to EJ22 power.

 

Cheers.

Chris

[ShawnW]

SWEET!

 

TIP! As of now I can't solve the blinking light on the dash for coolant level with the setup, but I used a Mercedes Coolant bottle instead of the VW one.

Benefits include being able to rent/own a coolant pressure tester without the weird VW adapter, using a cooling system refiller and ability to buy a "radiator cap" anywhere you might be. Be sure to keep as much of the 3/4" to 1/2" rubber hose that comes on the Mercedes as you can as thats really hard to aquire.

 

Aquire the Mastercraft motors stainless steel pipe and do the reverse coolant manifold as well...smallcar.com has a nice design for the reverse manifold.

 

If all else fails and you cant get it to burp (cooling system to bleed itself of trapped air) try removing the radiator bleeder screw and taking a turkey baster and filling the radiator thru the tiny little hole. Time consuming but it works.

 

BUY A NEW RADIATOR.

 

Replace your head gaskets and have your heads decked perfectly flat...or get a rebuilt engine.

Replace water pump and thermostat with OEM/Genuine parts.

 

Dont trust the stock temp gauge. Put a VDO remote electronic sender one in..install into the water crossover pipe (reversed) where the old Subie sender was. Mount gauge in a promenant place and get used to watching it like a hawk.

 

Youre lucky in one big area...youre starting with a Van that runs and drives so you can check over everything while its 100 percent german engineered.

 

That is all for now of my unasked for Vanaroo knowledge.

[Chris W.]

Shawn

 

Thanks for the reply/tips!

I am sure down the road I'll be asking more questions....

 

Cheers,

Chris