Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 00:40:37 -0500
Reply-To: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Joe L." <jliasse@TOAST.NET>
Subject: Re: How best to JB weld pitted heads?
In-Reply-To: <0FRE00KBZ61DFC@mta4.rcsntx.swbell.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Funny you should mention that. I just got through putting a layer on my
left head today. I did my right head last year and things are still tight so
I guess I got it right. I didnt find any instructions either so I just did
was seemed needed with what I had on hand in the house. Prime directive
being to do no harm to the head. That ment no power tools or coarse files or
emery as these work a little too quickly for safty. Next rule was to always
use a large block while sanding so as to ensure no hills and valleys are
sanded into the heads. Other than that I just went for it.
JB Weld comes in two flavors, regular and quickset. It is the regular
that has made the reputation of JB so use that. That quickset is new and
untried; VW heads are lousy test-beds.
First thing I did was to make VERY sure everything was CLEAN and oil
free. Easiest way to do this is with a good carb cleaner and a wire brush.
Get all that crud out of the pits so the JB will hold. Pick it out with a
needle if necessary.
Next mix the JB as per instructions and apply. I do mine in a few "coats"
in the deeper pits so as to minimize bubbles. Next comes a fine flat file
applied GENTLY to smooth the lumps from the JB. This followed by another
"coat" if needed. When things look good I go over the surface with a file
card (very stiff wire brush for cleaning files)to clean things up then
"polish" with fine emery cloth on a large sanding block.
Just to make sure all was as it should be before bolting it back on I
took the head down to the place where I get my parts and showed it to them.
They took the head and vanished into the garage area for a few minutes and
when they returned they said it was "perfect". So the left is getting done
the same way.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Roy Mellor
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 10:06 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: How best to JB weld pitted heads?
Volks,
I'd appreciate the list's advice before I try this one.
I'm doing the head gaskets on my '85 Westy and want to use JB weld to fill
in the pitting on the heads. I've never used the stuff before but am ready
to give it a try. Could anyone who has "been there and done that" help me
out here? What's the best way.
I've search the archives as best I can and can't find a "how to" on this
one.
Doesn't seem to be covered in Bentley either ;-)
TIA,
Roy Mellor
'85 Westy "Humbert"
