Water pipes. Feed and return. How do they fit?

[mines a money pit]

So it seems someone has bodged the water pipes on my van. Not at all surprised considering the state of everything else. It should have the early 32mm metal pipes. But it has lengths of rubber hose cable tied to the chassis . Metal pipes probably rotted and instead of doing it right some chimp has done this. So I'm faced with a £200 bill for some stainless pipes to do it properly. Don't know if I'm going to bother as may be giving up on the van as lost cause (mounting costs, no time, took on more than I can handle), but if I did decide to do the job, how do they fit as there doesn't seem to be any mountings on the pipes?

[Roydini]

I did this very same job a couple of months ago. I followed the Haynes manual and this from the wiki: https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... overhaul_1

The pipes are held in place with two small U-shaped brackets that screw into the underside of the chassis. Mine were a pig to remove as they were pretty rusty. I didn't have any PlusGas at the time so had to make do with WD40 which didn't help!

To replace the pipes you will need to remove the petrol tank and the spare wheel along with the cradle it sits in. I took the opportunity to replace the fuel tank along with the fuel lines as they were a bit tatty, and gave the spare wheel cradle a few coats of rustoleum.
A more detailed guide for removing the tank is here:
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fu ... nk_removal

The job itself took me a few days but a more experienced mechanic would easily have it done in a day. Take your time, label everything as you remove it so you know what goes where, and take a few pictures before you start in case you get in a muddle. Axle stands are a must I'd say and a trolley jack makes lowering/lifting the fuel tank much easier. Other than that just a regular set of tools is all you need. Obviously take all necessary precautions when working on the fuel lines and wear gloves and eye protection.

It's probably only a 2 or maybe 3 spanner job it's just that there's a fair bit of faffing to do before you actually get the new pipes in. The stainless pipes I got http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/t ... -32mm.html come in two sections which makes fitting them back in fairly straightforward. They connect together with two short lengths of thick rubber hose and are held in place with heavy duty clips.

As you will have had to drain all the coolant from the system before you start, also take the opportunity to inspect all the other components of the cooling system to see if they need replaced. See the WIKI section https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ma ... ing_System for more info on these components and what you are looking for.

Once you're done, follow this guide to fill and bleed your new shiny coolant system!
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Co ... ing_system

I realise that this might seem like a job too far especially if you haven't got much time, but I found it to be a reasonably straightforward job and very satisfying once complete. Everything you need to know is in the WIKI but feel free to respond if you need any more advice.

Cheers!

[mines a money pit]

Thanks for that mate. Sounds like a lot of work and something for warmer weather as with everything else. This van is a lost cause I think, at least for someone with my limited skills and even more limited time and money. May be time to give up and save up and buy a better one in a few years. Or as current thoughts are going, a T4

[slowcoach]

Havnt some people replaced the metal (early) or plastic (late) pipes with rubber hose, deliberately? So long as its the right spec rubber for heat and coolant etc, im sure there's been talk of this, and not so long ago either. . anyone?

The heater matrix pipes are rubber after all. . .

[kevtherev]

Havnt some people replaced the metal (early) or plastic (late) pipes with rubber hose, deliberately? So long as its the right spec rubber for heat and coolant etc, im sure there's been talk of this, and not so long ago either. . anyone?

The heater matrix pipes are rubber after all. . .

yes all mine are silicon.. no stainless, been like that for several years

[CovKid]

My plastic ones are still fine. If they ever go I'll fit the same.

[slowcoach]

Havnt some people replaced the metal (early) or plastic (late) pipes with rubber hose, deliberately? So long as its the right spec rubber for heat and coolant etc, im sure there's been talk of this, and not so long ago either. . anyone?

The heater matrix pipes are rubber after all. . .

yes all mine are silicon.. no stainless, been like that for several years

Thanks kev. My steel pipes are showing signs of bad corrosion and Moisture. Is there a thread for your mod? Cheers!

[Fully Loaded Cali']

Havnt some people replaced the metal (early) or plastic (late) pipes with rubber hose, deliberately? So long as its the right spec rubber for heat and coolant etc, im sure there's been talk of this, and not so long ago either. . anyone?

The heater matrix pipes are rubber after all. . .

yes all mine are silicon.. no stainless, been like that for several years

Thanks kev. My steel pipes are showing signs of bad corrosion and Moisture. Is there a thread for your mod? Cheers!

Interesting...mine are pretty bad under the rear arch but fine for the rest of the length, was thinking of cutting out the rotten sections and replacing with silicon.

Where's best place to buy??