Date:         Wed, 18 Oct 2000 08:24:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need help with old gasket removal (Thanks)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi Folks,

Pardon if this is a repeat.  I think I forgot to hit
the send button on my last post.  Anyway, I'd like
to thank Joel Walker, Robert Lilly, George Wietor and
Joe Romas and anyone else that I may have missed for
their suggestions as to how I should remove a baked
on gasket.  As it turned out, the use of a gasket
removal tool worked just fine.  I had also purchased
a gasket removing spray that remains unopened.

Once the gasket was removed, the coolant started
dibbling again and I had to fan away the hornets that
are apparently attracted to the stuff.  Well, after
dabbing off the area and coolant still dripping, I
decided to go ahead and apply the high temp RTV
sealant
to the paper gasket and put the flange on anyway.
With the bolts screwed in as tightly as I dared I left
the assembly for 24 hours as recommended on the RTV
tube.

After reassembling the motor bits back together I
started the van and got a squealing noise from the
alternator belt and a smell that told me that more
adjustment was needed.  I tightened up the belt and
ran it again and all seemed fine.  I took the van
out for a drive and after about 10 miles I got the
squeal signal again and by the time I got into a
parking place and looked at the damage, the alt.
belt was toast.  Fortunately, I had another under
the bench seat.  Spent a bit of time replacing and
noticed that it had somehow got wrapped around the
next pulley over and tore apart from there (I guess).
Took me a while to remember how to loosen the A.C.
compressor to get that belt off, but after searching
around I was able to get it adjusted and the belt
off.  Put on the spare alternator belt and the rest
back together and ran it again.  The engine sounded
like it should have the first time.  No funny noises
and has been running fine since.

However... There is a drip of coolant coming down just
even with the forward end of the passenger head but
from up above.  I cannot for the life of me, tell
we the drip is falling from.  I inspected all around
the head and it look pristine.  Any help with this
situation would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steven

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