Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 18:48:22 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: blown head gasket
At 150K or so, you're starting to get to the point of needing a rebuild
anyway. Anything you do sort of that will be something of a Band-Aid. If
you have your heart set on a conversion, go for it. Seems like, for you,
now's the time.
If you don't mind only getting another 30-60K out of it (which gives you a
couple or three years to think about which way to jump), you should be able
to get the head pulled and regasketted for under a thousand. If the head's
not badly pitted and all else looks OK in there, it should be around $600 or
so (least that's what it cost me last time).
Were I in your shoes, cheap SOB that I am, I'd look around for another quote
or two, and tell them that you are anticipating using your old head. If
they pull it and it's toast, you haven't really lost anything (this can be
done with the engine in the van, BTW).
Ask Brent Christensen for a reference to a good shop in the LA area. He's
up in Santa Barbara, but should have some clues.
Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kintz, Roger" <RKintz@ci.glendale.ca.us>
To: "'Karl Wolz'" <wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 3:23 PM
Subject: RE: blown head gasket
> Hi Karl,
>
> I'm not stranded, but I have to decide what to do as I need a vehicle.
> I'm already in the 90'vanagon for about $5,000 total, since buying it used
> in April. It appears that the previous owner used the wrong coolant for a
> time. The compression on the right side in one cylinder is low, white
smoke
> out of the exhaust pipe, and water vapor/steam out of the side block.
>
> I thought of conversion because I don't want to repeat this again in 60k
> miles, and want more power, etc.
> please advise!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Karl Wolz [mailto:wolzphoto@worldnet.att.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 9:52 AM
> To: Kintz, Roger
> Subject: Re: blown head gasket
>
>
> Hi Roger,
>
> I'm not a big fan of conversions. I'd shop around for a better price on
> that head gasket job. What are the symptoms? Are you leaking coolant to
> the ground or losing compression into the coolant. Former is not head
> gasket, but coolant sealing gasket. Latter is most likely head gasket.
> What is your goal in this. To make it derivable for a while or to last
> another 150K? At that mileage, you might want to consider a rebuild. Are
> you stranded?
>
> Karl Wolz
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kintz, Roger" <RKintz@ci.glendale.ca.us>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 8:47 AM
> Subject: blown head gasket
>
>
> > Help Help anyone!
> >
> > My worst nightmare has come true. I have a 90' Vanagon GL with 140,000
> > miles and a blown head gasket in Los Angeles.
> >
> > Estimated costs of repair are in the thousands! I was thinking of doing
a
> > GTI conversion, but just learned that the only company in CA in Gilroy,
> > stopped doing them last year due to lack of parts.
> >
> > Does anyone know of another place I can do a conversion in Southern
> > California? Is a subaru engine conversion reliable?
> > Is my best option to replace the engine with a rebuilt, due to the high
> > mileage?
> > Where can I take my car to have the work done in Southern CA for a
> > reasonable price?
> > Should I sell the van (otherwise in good condition)?
> >
> > Please help!
> >
> > Thanks!
>
>
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