Date:         Thu, 7 Sep 2000 09:04:58 EDT
Reply-To:     Wolfvan88@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Lilley <Wolfvan88@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Thinking swap?  Engine options are only half the story...What
              about the t...
Comments: To: Bayleaf98@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 9/7/00 1:17:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Bayleaf98 writes:

<< You have yet to speak of potential head problems in your engine >>


-I used NEW AMC heads with GERMAN VALVES (the stock Italian tend to pull
through)
-I did a three angle valve job to increase flow without increasing valve size
-I matched the air runners to the intake port to increase flow (the ends of
the runners are about 1.5mm smaller)
-I cleaned up the casting imperfections eliminating obstructions to flow
-I did NOT polish the ports because the rough surface is needed to keep the
air tumbling at low speeds to keep the mixture mixed, otherwise idle
emissions go up and low speed power is decreased.  As the airspeed increases,
the rough castings have little effect on flow.  (the engine is smooth from
1200 RPMs to 5000 RPMs)
-The gasket sealing surface has been protected from corrosion by the ceramic
coatings.  Corrosion cannot start where there is nothing to corrode. So the
gaskets life will not be cut short with corrosion damage.
-I am using a special German coolant (Not the VW stuff) with Redline Water
wetter and flush yearly.
-I used a special German head gasket sealant made for the application (again
not the VW stuff)
-I have also used ceramic coatings on the piston top, combustion chamber (to
help prevent the cracks between the valves)
-I have coated the exhaust valve stem with a coating to reduce friction yet
attract oil.  The valve gets hot with the exhaust, so I coated the radius and
the exhaust ports to reduce the heat the valve and head  absorbs increasing
the life of the valve.
-I used ratio rockers with swivel feet- the tip that touches the valves
flexes as it goes through the lifting action reducing the side load on the
valve stems, increasing the life of the valve guide.
-I used lighter Cromoly racing valve spring retainers.  Stronger and lighter
than the stock steel.
-I used racing valve locks. Harder and more resistant to shearing than the
stock steel.
-I ported the exhaust port to match the gasket and improve flow.
-I used new VW head nuts.

This is just the detail for the heads...


So what problems were you talking about?

The head gasket failing?
If it does after a long life, I will simply pull the head off and put on a
new gasket and go on.

The studs failing?
That happens when the coolant is not changed AND/OR the wrong type of coolant
is used.


Robert