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Overheating is one of my big concerns as I am in Thailand and is it a bit toasty here all the time.

This is my first VW build and other car is a Suby so the aircooled issue has not been a big concern until now, plus this one is for my wife and it must be reliable. A 96 row oil cooler c/w fan is on the list but what is the "cool" set up for a fan.

I read about DTM, doghouses, et all and my head is spinning. Leaning toward a doghouse in my blissful ignorance but would really appreciate some input from those in the know

Robert
Man if you have to import a T1 air cooled engine from overseas and then have to worry about parts --- and you are seeking low maintenance and dependability --- why not go the Subaru route? Even a normal aspirate EJ20 or EJ22 Subbie kicks butt and is virtually same size as air cooled VW. Plus there has got to be a gazillion over there. Plumbing the radiator is only real job as there are adapters (KEP - Kennedy Engineering Products) to mate to VW transmission.

http://www.rs25.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7056

http://frost.bbboy.net/vwengineconversions


Suby is a done deal on my personal car and in fact is quite trick. A complete single turbo 2.0 or 2.5 engine is 1000 USD. KEP is about 1500.00 USD and by the time it lands is closer to 3000.
The thought is that the locals will prefer to use a donor rather than shell out more money.

This build is for a demo car showing what can be done using a VW donor as I am making a mould right now off my CMC flared body. Will produce a few bodies and/or turnkey cars to keep busy as retirement here is getting pretty slow.

Will also use this one for the Wife's fun car so a clapped out local donor will just not do. I bought the biggest POS I could find and it still cost 2000 USD. Nice (at least on the outside) Beetles cost 8000 USD. It is better, and cheaper to import a turnkey engine and gearboxbox rather than pay local rates for 40 years of no servicing until it breaks, and then fixed with bent screwdrivers and bailing wire while working on the floor.

BTW the Thai work for a VW Beetle is a VW Turtle - kind of makes sence when you look at one.

Robert
i have a few friends in the Thia VW club that could help you out robert.

i was there in october and hung out quite a bit with them.

Where are you located? These guys are based out of Bangkok, but travel all kinds of places. Super great bunch of folks too. A few speak near perfect english.
They speak Thai, but-as in most Asian countries-they have a LOT of meanings for "smile" and a hundred different laughs that imply everything from, "HA! That isn't even my REAL name!" to "HA! I just robbed you, DOG! You could have bought it for 1/5 the price!"

The language is a very . . . nervous . . . one, and impossible to learn, other than a few important words like, hospital and consulate.

LUCKILY, English is the language of love and drugs, so American visitors usually get by just fine.
Robert,

I'm going to email / post on this forum instead of calling (I live in canada so it'll cost me / you a pretty penny).

The club is based out of Bangkok, but they may have contacts in Changmai. I've been there too. It's beautiful - although the zoo was a little odd.

Anyway

The guy who has the best english and is a super nice guy is named "Pat" (actually "nopat" is his real name). IIRC - he is the webmaster too for the site. it used to have a link to an english section - but i can't find that anymore. Being that you live in Changmai - you could probably hack your way around the language to post a "help".

http://www.thaivwclub.com/

most speak some sort of english and are really nice folks. I've offered to open my house when/if they come here. Pat's brother lives in Seattle and has a custome vw shop.

Pat's email / MSN address is :napatxx -at- hotmail -dot- com

Tell him Paul from canada sent you. I had a ghia vert (1960) last time i saw him, but told him i was getting a speedster. He's a smart guy and very friendly.

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