Coolant re-route starts

I ordered and have since received a coolant flange that I thought I should be able to put on the front of the engine. Turns out, I was wrong, and I wasn't able to finish this bit off. My plan was to use this flange to route the water that comes out of the head/block above the transaxle over to the side so it isn't banging into the fuel tank. I talked about this in an earlier post (tanks for nuttin? Maybe earlier than that). Basically, the issue is that the coolant routes over the top of the transmission when these engines are in a Beetle, Jetta or Golf. In the bus, that big aluminum flange juts out so far, it would make using the stock bus fuel tank impossible. I figured, if I can't change the tank (I spent 3 days trying to find a good solution), then change what the coolant lines do.

Since I have an engine from a manual transmission (USA model), there is an extra bit on the end of the flange that's really the bugger. On the USA standard transmission model, they added a coolant heater that is powered by glowplugs. Yes, these are very much like the glowplugs that warm up the engine. Anyway, in the automatic models, there isn't a coolant heater (I don't know why), and the flange dead-ends just about even with the vacuum pump. This would be a better post with pictures, so, here's one from the ETKA that shows the 2 of them next to each other. The one on the right is the one that I had stock. The one on the left fits the same, but doesn't have part numbered "8" (028 121 145B). Note, too, the blue #14. That is a bolt that I'll need too (M6x75x37) as the stock (#15) bolt isn't nearly as long.

So, in haste, I ordered what I thought was the right parts. I ordered p/n 037121121A and the gasket (p/n 059121119) from autohausaz. Their prices are better than most, and they deliver fast. As long as I was on their site, I got an ALH motor mount, a new oil dipstick tube and a gasket for the exhaust:turbo outlet. Basically, I needed these things eventually and once I got over $50 in stuff, shipping is free. Sweet. The only snag: I got the wrong parts. I should have checked ETKA first. Hopefully, I'll learn that lesson this time. So, I'll be returning / exchanging and installing later. I pulled the original flange off and it was quick discovery that the parts were wrong. Although, that does well-prepare me for the install of the new flange.

I'll figure out a way to use the coolant heater later. Maybe I can charge the heater on cold days that way. Hmm... that reminds me, I have to think about how to deal with heat at some point. Oi. So many loose ends. More next time. Hopefully, I'll have a job and some other engine-related news soon--