Date:         Thu, 10 Jan 2002 11:17:27 -0800
Reply-To:     Steve Johnson <stevej@WB32TV.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Johnson <stevej@WB32TV.COM>
Organization: WB32
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello,

I'm new to the list and recently purchased a '91 Carat (3rd bus, first water-cooled) and I love it!
I know about the potential head problems and I bought the van assuming it will need this addressed
(why else would you sell one?) so I am already preparing for it, therefore a few questions:

Does this "Bar's" leak fix stuff damage or cause deterioration to the engine or related parts?
On a '91 would you have to replace the heads or just the head gaskets (from your experiences)?
People talk about "retorquing the heads",  what would indicate that this is needed and why?
Can a handy person (like myself) really do this themselves?
I would like to think you could replace only the gasket that's leaking since they are totally separate.

(I pulled my air-cooled more times than I can count.
I once replaced the entire clutch only to have the throw out bearing fork break
as soon as I tried to drive it. So, that was a double removal and installation in
one day, in my driveway no less!)

But, the Vanagon is far more complicated and I worry about getting into areas that I
just don't fully understand. i.e. fuel injection, electronic ignition and coolant system bleeding to name a few.

Thanks.
Steve Johnson
"91 Carat