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Air control flaps

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landfall Officially Full-On Dubber

290 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#1009568
ON removing and dismantling my engine I have discovered, that while I have a thermostat, it is not connected to anything.

The linkage and air control flaps have been removed from the fan housing.

Do I really need these air control flaps here in the Australian climate?

hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 ·

#1009591
Recommended, but good luck finding some
Cheers

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1009592
People take em off cos if the thermostat fails it defaults to the flaps shut and hence you overheat the engine. This is supposedly why many remove them.

As already said, finding the flaps is gonna be a mission. Maybe try Megabug in the UK as they specialise in breaking old VW's and UK are more likely to still have them on the engine 🙂
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

landfall Officially Full-On Dubber

290 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#1009594
Thanks for the replies.

I am in the process of building a new engine and of course am reading the appropriate books, which all say that they are essential.

Talked to a specialist VW engine builder today that said he never fits them, not needed in Australia. Along with another piece of advice I received from him last week I really think what else do some of these specialists leave out of these engines and is near enough good enough?

I will try and find some if possible, or else I guess it will be another missing part.

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#1009597
if your up north prob don't need

if yr don south helps the engine warm up correctly
I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=63561&page=1#pid624099


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603


http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1009607
vw54 wrote:if your up north prob don't need

if yr don south helps the engine warm up correctly
Hmm, even winter up north can get pretty chilly in the hinterlands. I reckon Darwin's probably the only place you could truly get away with never needing them.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#1009621
IMO they are necessary. I see a definate improvement in cooling efficency when fitted. It is about improving/straightening the air flow into the fins of the heads and barrels.
The original systems default position of the flaps is OPEN if anything fails. Where they go wrong is if the spring fails or clips break there is nothing to keep them open, also the new Brazilian thermostat is of a design that if it fails it pulls the flaps shut, not desirable. I fit them or make a similar version to all my engines even if permanantly welded open for the benefit of improved cooling.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

landfall Officially Full-On Dubber

290 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#1009627
Thanks for the replies, I will try and source some.

My biggest concern was exactly what Matt has pointed out, that they direct correct air flow.