edit 30-04-2008: Finished the pipes and brackets:
I’ve got (besides the before mentioned bracket) two brackets that hold the pipes under the car. One in the front and one in the back. At first I wanted to put a third bracket in the middle, but when I finished these two brackets I noticed that these brackets are holding the pipes sturdy enough. I decided not to make a middle bracket.
I welded a little line on all pipe-ends and grinded it smooth. This should provide a “lip” to hold the rubber hoses on.
The rear support:
It’s screwed onto the car under the back seat. Not shown in the picture is the bolt that screws through the bracket into the top piece to clamp the pipes.
The front support is bolted to a hole I drilled in the floorpan in the piece under the master brake cylinder and on the other side of the tunnel in the same spot.
This bracket clamps the pipes with two bolts.
This afternoon I painted the pipes and brackets, tomorrow they are ready for (hopefully) final assembly.
Hi.
Great site. Great conversion. My name is George. One question about coolant pipes and electrolysis or diabrosis. After reading tones of Infos about this Thema many people who made subaru or alfa romeo engines conversion to their beetles claim that the difference between 2 metals for example aluminium block and stainless steel coolant pipes is very bad idea because this can create diabrosis or electrolysis and eat the softer aluminium engine case. What is your opinion about this and what did you do to prevent this.
Thanks
Hi George,
I didn’t do anything to prevent it, because I think it is not an issue. It’s only an issue when the two metals touch, which in my case it doesn’t.
Also, every coolant should contain anti-freeze, something to lubricate the waterpump and rust-protection.
See also: http://www.coolantexperts.com/faq#what_other_functions_does_a_coolant_offer
Another thing that convinced me that this is not an issue, is the way my engine is build. My engine has alumium heads and a cast iron crankcase. The coolant flows through the heads (aluminum), and past the cylinders in the crankcase (iron). If it was an issue, then this engine was not built like this by the factory.
Greetings,
Gerrelt.