Date:         Fri, 6 Oct 2000 14:31:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Sachs <donsachs@TELUS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Sachs <donsachs@TELUS.NET>
Subject:      1990 waterboxer heads - a popular topic....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi All,

After 240,000 km (150,000 miles for the metricly challenged :-) ), I have
seen the first coolant drip from one of the heads on my 1990 Westalia.  No
other problems, runs great, only drips slightly when cold.  I know the worst
is coming.  Thought I would get a few opinions as to a reasonable course of
action.  My oil consumption is very slight, I change it about every 5,000 -
6,000 km and use about 1/2 - 3/4 litre between changes.  I have heard new
engines aren't much better.  So I thought we'd park the van as usual around
Dec. 1 when the snow gets deep on our long driveway and do the job in the
spring just after breakup (of my driveway).  The cost of new heads here in
Canada is about $590 each for the AMC ones - plus you gotta buy the gasket
kits.  That is just about the same as the US cost if you do the currency
conversion.  While I have done mucho auto work in the past I now have two
small children and I could never find the time to do a major project anymore
so I will pay my local - and very trusty - independent VW mechanic for
labour.  My options are to:

1.   Replace just one head - the cheapest, but hey, if you are draining the
cooling system and the heads are the same age, how long 'til the other one
goes...(cost is about $1,100 - $1,200).
2.  Replace both heads and pray that the cylinders and bottom end hold up
for at least another 60,000 km or so (2-3 years for us).... they appear to
be fine now given the good power, oil pressure, and fairly low oil
consumption. (cost is about $1900 or so if no other problems discovered..)

3.  Bite the bullet and do the whole engine, bottom end and everything and
be relatively trouble free for 5 years or so.  I can get a really good
complete rebuilt one for $3,000 plus about $500 labour to re and re.  Or my
mechanic says he can completely rebuild mine for about $3,500 also.  We are
talking new everything here.  He says it is my call and that putting new
heads on my current engine might well get me another 60 - 80,000 km before
the major engine problems set in.  Or, he says about 1 in 10 he has tried to
put heads on have the cylinders stuck and screwed up.

Soooooo, given all the waterboxer owners out there - and all you mechanics
on the list....  I would like to hear the various opinions.  I don't know
how lucky I feel, but I am inclined to save cash now and just do both heads
unless I miraculously run into more income over the winter and hope to get
another couple or three years
out of the bottom end.  The body and paint are immaculate so I am keeping
the van long-term.  How long have your engines gone before a major rebuild
was required?  All opinions will be considered!

thanks,
don