Silicone coolant hoses - AAZ in 82 Vanagon

[Gizmoman]

Still working on getting the new radiator installed. I'll have to fab up new brackets and work out a new fan shroud. I'm aware of using later model bits but I spent the day hiking around the local wrecking yards and found only one Vanagon - the parts I needed were already gone.

I am replacing all the coolant hoses as well as the PO really hacked the originals up adding in a goofy additional radiator (should have just changed the plugged stock one - must weigh 50 lbs!).

Anyway, I found a source for a silicone hose kit (AAZ Vanagon specific) but it goes for nearly 500 bucks. I realize these are rare but there must be a less expensive alternative. Anyone know of a less expensive set?

[theman53]

forum member Gee Bee on here made a set, maybe that is what you found. I don't know about the stock hoses availability but I think they were getting rare. The Silicone would be a lifetime or until an accident/cut so maybe not that expensive?

[Gizmoman]

Yea, GEBE is the one - spoze I'll just do it. Very smart on his part.

[Syncroincity]

vanagon.eu is off the air...  He had full used rubber sets and other conversion parts from Germany. Out of business, apparently.

GeeBee is the man at this point. I have his hoses, they are top-notch, never need another one. He has the front connector hoses too.

[libbydiesel]

Yeah, vanagon.eu closing leaves a big void.

[Gizmoman]

OK, I'm getting the hoses from Gee Bee but I'll stick with the rubber for the radiator hoses as they don't sit in the hot, vibrating engine bay. Besides, they are half the price at Go Westy.
I read that silicone coolant hoses can let water (not glycol) seep out over time, and that they need special clamps. Any truth to this?

[Gizmoman]

Also, it just dawned on me that as I have removed the water/oil cooler chingus between the oil filter and also installed a remote oil cooler and dual filter set-up - I'll need a different set of hoses or "t" or plug the new set. Any ideas?

[libbydiesel]

Yes, you'll want to plug both oil cooler connections which simplifies the hose from the middle of the head to a Y going to the radiator and expansion tank.  The original line to the expansion tank had a reducer in it and is really just an air bleed.  I would not allow an orifice larger than 1/4" as it bypasses all cooling.  The simplified path would be the end of the head to the heater circuit, the straight bypass hose, the straight hose for the coolant return from radiator to thermostat, the heater circuit return with a Y to the bottom of the expansion tank and the hose from the middle of the head to the radiator and small Y to the top of the expansion tank.

[Gizmoman]

Thanks for the clear explanation libby.
I found this kit http://www.sparktecmotorsports.com/va-600001100824-rd.html?utm_source=googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&id=20861070197&utm_content=pla and the add says it fits the 1.9 AAZ. The price is better than Gee Bee's and oddly, he has not been very helpful in my requests.
He does respond but has sent no links as to where to buy them. He sent a message "try grease works" so I Googled the words, went to the site, and they show a picture of the hose kit but no links at all - very frustrating.

I wonder what kind of luck I'd have just going to the local FLAPS and browsing through hoses. Buying the spendy silicone ones and then plugging ports seems counter intuitive.

[Syncroincity]

You do need better hose clamps for silicone hoses. Common geared clamps simply chew up the rubber and don't seal the ends well. GB supplied clamps with the kits when we made them up, full inner clamping surfaces with no gear-tooth contact.

It looks like Greaseworks is out of stock. They footed the bill for getting these made, and got the majority of the sets... it sounds like GeeBee (Guy) doesn't have any either; Get back in touch w/ him, explain that GW is out of stock. He usually has ads up on theSamba.com for these, he's got a variety of other hose sets that he cooked up. Time for a new batch of these.

[libbydiesel]

I wonder what kind of luck I'd have just going to the local FLAPS and browsing through hoses. Buying the spendy silicone ones and then plugging ports seems counter intuitive.

I've made up many hoses from FLAPS hoses.  I also have a homemade tubing beader that works down to 1/2" pipe and so along with my welder have made up a lot of connectors.  www.jagsthatrun.com has an excellent selection of various size reducers and Ys.

[Gizmoman]

I called Guy and spoke with him for quite some time - nice person - just very busy. He had me call Grease works and talk directly to Justin. He had just sent him a blue set. I called Justin, and purchased that set (complete with clamps).

I had to cancel the order I had already placed for the less expensive set from Sparktec. Apparently (according to Guy) there were quality issues with them - I'll never know for sure but he was pretty convincing.

Thanks for all the good info - I'm getting closer to clack . Got the stainless pipes in but can't complete the replacement of the fuel tank yet as I'm waiting for a new upper rubber elbow for the filler pipe (bus Boys - 16 bucks). I'm also replacing the heater hoses with 5/8 silicone as well.

What are your thoughts on the silicone allowing H²O to seep through? The info I ran across was from Gates Rubber but I know the company somewhat and I doubt they are lying. Do you find that you have to add water to your "silicone" systems?

[Gizmoman]

. . . The original line to the expansion tank had a reducer in it and is really just an air bleed.  I would not allow an orifice larger than 1/4" as it bypasses all cooling. . .

That's an interesting bit of info right there. There was no reducer in the PO's setup - possibly contributing somewhat to my temp gauge going higher than I wanted it to on steep long climbs.

I also may need to get a later model expansion tank. Guy mentioned that the hoses have larger diameter branches for the later tank - the earlier tank has smaller ports. Mine have a 1" lower port and a .7" upper measuring the bump OD.
The out-flow of cash is steady that's for sure!

[GEE-BEE]

Iam here....

I made a set of stock aaz motor hoses without the center hose going to the oil cooler assy

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1078372

Greaseworks has purchased these as shown and also as the oil cooler delete

I do all the NLA hoses for Van Cafe and and doing the VW 2.0 T custom intercooler and coolant hoses for
Stephansautohaus and Germanmotorwerks

Iam not a vanagon installer, I did have to make severl hoses assys for the mk1 caddy with aaz and I make all the stuff for MK1autohaus
Its jetski season so the seadoo market is off and running for the season..
I do not stock hoses assys, I mfg to order wit a 5/7 week lead time

85 % percent of my business is making NLA intake and heater silicone ducting for aircraft

The Ducati -KTM/Husaberg Motorcycle market is just for fun and I use the tooling of new motorcycles to write off my purchases
I hope all is well with all of you

Guy
Gee-Bee
Gee-Bee Racing
Gee-Bee Aeroproducrs

[Gizmoman]

Just to clarify, Gee Bee is a great guy and a good source of info regarding silicone coolant hoses. As he states, he makes them to order and provides them through Van Cafe and Greaseworks. Sometimes they have them in stock, sometimes they don't. I just got lucky and now have a nice set (complete with the proper clamps) awaiting my AAZ install.



Thanks Guy