Date:         Sat, 16 Feb 2002 07:30:52 -0500
Reply-To:     Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject:      Head Gaskets: A Rite of Passage : A Prayer
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Today, after seventeen years of owning VW vans, I feel as if I have finally
crossed over the threshold of becoming a journeyman Van owner.

Let me explain.

The Rite:
My first van was an '81. It wasn't a waterleaker.  It ran well. The heat
came from an auxiliary heater.  The van was Spartan; just what you would
expect from a van designed by the Sons of German National Socialism in the
late sixties and early seventies.
My second van, Hans a '91 Caravelle, was perfect until I discovered the
Westy. I drove him as a daily driver until last Spring.   When I quit
driving him daily, he started rebelling.  But, he has allowed me to
appreciate the engineering and intricacies of the 2.1 for over six years
before bringing me to the steps of the hallowed halls of the inner sanctum
of full fledged vanhood.
Fritz, the '84 Westy, brought me nothing but pleasure and good times for
several thousands of smiles/miles. He has now been handed over to the
"Nephew" who is in  Nirvana  at the prospects that the "ultimate getaway"
vehicle offers.
Franz (named today), the '87 Westy, sits waiting for a few mechanical
touchups and a few shake down camping trips with The Central Ohio Westies
vans and busses (COWvab) as preliminary for the trip to the Great Southwest
in the Fall.

I am ready for the true test of the Vanagon Owner.  Hans has brought me
here. At 165,436 miles he needs head gaskets. I am ready. Test me.

Today, with a couple of extra hours in a very hectic schedule, I began the
first steps in the passage to full fledged Van Ownership.
I began to pull the heads on Hans. He has blown the right side head gasket
outward and the left is showing signs of leaking.  I knew they were
blown....I just knew it.

Now you guys on the Left Coast may be getting a little bored with my
diatribe just about now...but... Hang in There!
Back here in the Rust Belt... this appears to be no small task.... the
telling nor the gaskets.  Fritz came from AZ where there is no rust...and
Franz is a native of VA and NC where rust is a very small bit actor in the
Thespian troupe.  Hans, however, was sold in Cincy and raised in Columbus
and has reached maturity in beautiful Southern Ohio.... all where road salt
is used in the Winter. Rust is front and center on our stage!  A real star!

After almost two hours, the intake and exhaust manifolds are off and I am
ready to attack the removal of the heads.   All the forward nuts and studs
on the exhaust manifolds had to removed with a chisel and hammer. A VERY
reputable and revered dealer had replaced the heads on Hans about 70K miles
ago....but for some reason they used 1/2 inch bolts instead of 12 mm!!!
Yee Haw!!!  Test me!!  I can't wait to get a little more time under there to
actually pull the heads and see how pitted they are.

A Prayer.
I love these vehicles. Their practicality and utility are unequalled. The
Westy is a marvel in efficiency and (I think) charm.  I consider myself
lucky to be enough of a non-conformist and anti-establishment person to
appreciate the Swiss Army knife/ Leatherman aspects of the vehicle.

It is with this attitude that I beseech the Vanagon gods to PLEASE let the
heads pull away from the cylinders. And PLEASE let the heads be in
rebuildable condition.

This is my fervent prayer. I ask a blessing.  I deserve it.  After
all, My name is Stephen and I am a VW Vanagon addict.

--
Stephen *
Chillicothe OH
Chillicothe OH
'91 Caravelle  "Hans"
'87 Westy      "Franz"
'84 Westfalia  "Fritz"  now sold to my nephew
'81 Diesel Rabbit "Ol' Yeller" by PO
'82 Diesel Jetta "Donormobile" for...
'82 Caddy VW P.U. ( White with a nice "mossy" tone from the
          years' of sitting waiting to be discovered by a VW
          addict like me)....it runs! Waiting for a clear title.
'90 Jetta GL  16 yo Sons' "together" car
'74 MGB  My first car...yep, I've kept it since '74
'93 Chevy S-10    I hate it ... soon to be "Gone"
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