Date:         Wed, 28 Nov 2001 08:29:12 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Ramer <elvisramer@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Ramer <elvisramer@HOME.COM>
Subject:      head gasket resealing progress
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

    When we last left our hero, Mike had decided to do the job he had procrastinated for some time: the dreaded leaking head syndrome!
    Began the job of resealing the head gaskets in my 87 Westy yesterday. 6 hours logged into the job so far and I am now ready to take apart the exhaust @ the cat-conveter in order to lower it away from the engine. Looks as though I'll either have to grind or use a hacksaw here. Everything else is off except the water pump and heads; all fluids are drained. 
    So far so good- no broken bolts/studs as there is not much salt on the roads here in sunny so-cal to ruin things. Although, the oil drain felt like it was cross-threaded when I removed it- way too much resistance. There is evidence of an oil leak there too, hmmm. I'll have to take a closer look when I start again this morning.
    Took me a little longer than normal to figure out how the electrical connectors disconnnected. Duooh! Probably a chapter on that in the Bentley somewhere. Labeled everything and took some pics for reference.
    Not sure if 6 hours to get to this point is a decent time or not. I'm only a shade tree wrench, but I try to be a very meticulous one at that.
    Question for fellow gearheads: Why is a 'bar type' or 'dial indicator' torque wrench specified vs. the 'clik type' that I have for torquing the heads? Acurracy? If so, then is it not hard to see the indicator?

    Need to get the MTBHAUS (mountain bike house) on the road so that I can head up to Joshua Tree National Park for the annual Sunrise Century (um, that's like a'hunderd miles, dude) this Sunday. Basically 'Dawn Patrol' on a bike with friends, epic scenery, followed by serious food & grog.

Regards and TIA, Mike
    

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