Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 15:18:19 -0400
Reply-To: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: 84 head job update #2
Having fun Tim!!
>>but when I began to remove the head from the cylinders, they were stuck
tight! would not budge.!!! <<
Tap this one with a big hammer (mallet) and some kind of big wood dowel or
piece. Tap hard!!!
>>My one fear at this point is that I if I pull the heads off to far I
will pull the cylinders off the pistons<<
Yes, don't pull more than 1.5 / 2 inches. When done, use a hammer with a
big wood dowel (I use part of a hockey stick) and tap the sleeve gently all
around.
>>and that, I have heard, will result in my having to pull the engine in
order to get the pistons back in the cylinders. Is this true??<<
No, but you will have a hard time putting back pistons ring with the engine
in the van. It's just difficult to work when you are crouched on the
ground. The need of a SPECIAL ring compressor is needed on a Vanagon due to
the engine-sleeve configuration. You could probably put the ring back by
hand on the first sleeve but forget about the second one, you need the
tool. I never use a ring compressor on inline 4-cylinder bike or car. They
do go in by hand, with a few hands of course, lets say that 4 hands is ok.
>>what do I use to pry the heads from the cylinders??? anyone have a
special tool or technique???<<
First try to bang the head with a hammer and a piece of wood, if it doesn't
work, use a very big flat screwdriver and I put some electric tape around
the flat section (to protect the head surface), insert the screwdriver in
the outer rubber gasket (brake this one) and pry gently on the head side.
>>Do the water jackets come off the block??<<
No
>>Another thing is that I do not see any of those rings they show in the
Bentley book. The ones that are suppose to be in the head where the
cylinders rim rests. Were are they???<<
Stuck on the sleeve!! Look carefully. There is an O-ring and a flat metal
ring; you should see the metal ring first if stuck on the sleeve.
>>One more thing... Bus depot has an awesome offer on a total gasket set
for the 1.9 vanagon.. the complete set with head gaskets is $99.. holy
moly.. that's an awesome price considering the head gaskets alone can be
way over priced... Thanks Ron!! <<
I WOULD NEVER USE ANYTHING ELSE THAN OEM GASKET ON ANY ENGINE. I had very
BAD experiences on motorcycle engine with non-OEM gasket, at 90%!!!
Regards, Ben
Ps.: I did some scan of the Bentley page for you, I modified the picture,
maybe it can help in some way, you or others.
http://pages.infinit.net/engine/head.htm