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Date:         Sun, 26 Mar 2000 16:40:40 -0600
Reply-To:     Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marshall Ruskin <mruskin@PANGEA.CA>
Subject:      Tips on fixing Head gaskets with JBWeld
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Volks:

Mr Frank Condeli, a fellow listee, sent me this p-mail on head gasket surfacing.

With his permission, I am posting it so everybody can benefit.

Thanks Frank!

Marshall Ruskin 84 Westy

>In a message dated 3/25/00 12:00:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, >mruskin@pangea.ca writes: > ><< 1. Please describe what you mean when you "resurface" the heads. > I imagine you mean that you cover the entire head mating surface with JB > weld, and then ensure it's smooth, then scuff it up. Is that right? > > Yes, sort of. If there are lots of pits, I will cover the entire >surface. The point is to get the pits full and then get the surface straight >and level and back to it's original surface as much as possible. I do not >leave any JB Weld material on the head surface where there are no pits. Sand >the area with a block sander, or sandpaper on a piece of glass or an orbital >sander. If when sanding you notice that there is JB Weld material staying on >parts of the heads then there is a possibilty the heads are not straight and >level. So the sanding process may entail removing some aluminium from the >high areas to get the surface level. The heads should be checked for >straightness before beginning any of the pit filling. This can be done with >a GOOD straight edge tool. This way you know where your headed in the >sanding procedure. If the heads are badly warped then resurfacing at a >machine shop facility will be necessary. This should be done after you get >the pits filled. What your trying to achieve here is a straight, level >surface for that big O-ring to mate to. The surface should be left a bit >rough so the last course of sandpaper should be #220 or scuff the surface >with a red scotch brite pad. This is to give the sealant something to cling >to. > > 2. On exactly what surfaces is the Permatex applied to? There's some > discussion lately as to where the sealer/goop/stuff! should be applied. At > the bottom end, too? >> > > I apply the sealant to the 0-ring first, coating it very lightly, before >setting it in its groove. This may or may not be necessary but does not >hurt. Leaking does not occur in that groove. After the O-ring is in its >groove then I coat the top surface of the cylinders where the O-ring is. You >want the sealant between the O-ring and the surface of the head. This is >where expansion/contraction and the leaking occurs. >I also lightly coat the O-ring at the base of the cylinders with sealant >before installing the O-ring then a light coating on the surface where the >O-ring is. I am not sure if this is of any benefit as by the time you get >everything assembled and begin to tighten down the head bolts the sealant has >set up pretty well. Also, this is not a known area for leaking to occur just >that it may once the original O-ring have been un-tensined due to removing >the head. Therefore the need to change the O-ring. > >Cheers > >Frank Condelli >'87 Westy & Lionel Trains >STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems >Almonte, On >Visit me on the web.......> <A >HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates< >/A> or >http://http://onward.to/frankcondelli >Want to win $10,000? Click to enter!! > <A HREF="http://irecommend-it.com/sh.e?22EC343C3B75">iRecommend-It Public >Page for RAlanen@aol.com</A> >


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