Date:         Mon, 10 Jun 2002 10:08:24 -0700
Reply-To:     mike ingle <mikei@ANCORE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mike ingle <mikei@ANCORE.COM>
Subject:      Vanagon handling.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have an 80 Westfalia which I just replaced with an 87 weekender.  I test
drove it away from a highway, and didn't notice the difference in handling.

The 87 seems to have several inches more ground clearance, and a much softer
suspension.  It also has power steering (yuck).  The jist of it is that
unlike my 80 and my old 82 diesel westy (oh how I miss that one) , It feels
less stable  than a type ii (73 to be exact).  So, before I donate... the 80
Westy, Is it feasable to change out the power steering for rack and pinion
manual steering?  What about the springs etc.  Visually I like the high
clearance, and I can imagine that I would be nice for those rough areas.
But, I really miss the good handling.

Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Ramer" <elvisramer@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 9:46 AM
Subject: Re: Cylinder head sticking to cylinder sleeve


> Yes, what Ken said works great! And do both heads! You do not want to go
> through this again. Easier to do it now.
>
> Regards, Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kenneth Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 5:19 AM
> Subject: Re: Cylinder head sticking to cylinder sleeve
>
>
> > I have found the easiest way to do this.  Pull the heads out from the
> block
> > about 1/2 inch.  Take the end of a screw driver and place it against one
> of
> > the little nubs that stick out at the top of the cylinder.  Now you want
> to
> > hit this nub in such as way that you turn the cylinder just a little.
You
> > only want to turn it a couple of degrees.  Once it turns (should only
take
> a
> > couple of hits) you want to go to the nub on the opposite side of the
> > cylinder and turn it back.  Now do the same with the other cylinder.
Now
> > just put your screw driver between the head and one of these nubs and
pry
> > just a little.  The cylinder should come right off of the head and then
> > repeat for the other cylinder.  This should not hurt the o-rings at the
> > bottom of the cylinder since you are actually pulling the bottom of the
> > cylinder away from the block about 1/2 inch.
> >
> > I did this the last head job I did and it worked like a charm.  No
damage
> > done and alot less hitting, and time consumed.  Hope this helps.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > http://www.vanagain.com
> > Phone: (856)-327-4936
> > Fax: (856)-327-2242
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> > Of Craig Oda - Personal email
> > Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 1:02 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Cylinder head sticking to cylinder sleeve
> >
> >
> > I'm in the process of taking off my cylinder head and the sleeves are
> > sticking to it.  I've tried whacking the cylinder head with a wooden
> > stick in an attempt to loosen it up.  No go.  I've been getting help
> > from Dave who is having a similar adventure with his "Wolfy."
> >
> > Dave used a large screwdriver on the lip of the cylinder sleeve to
> > break the sleeve free from the head.  Is this a risky thing to try?
> > Is there any danger with scratching or warping the cylinder sleeve?
> > I notice there are two little studs at the top of the sleeves, near
> > the center.  I would love to just take a screwdriver and pry the
> > sleeve from the head using those as the leverage point.  I read that
> > someone from Canada used a hockey stick to break the sleeve free.
> > Unfortunately, I don't have one of these right now.
> >
> > I'm new to mechanics, but am forced to try this myself as I want to go
> > camping this summer and the wife is balking at the cost of taking
> > it to a mechanic.
> >
> > I'm really intimidated at having to put the sucker back together, but
> > first I have to make sure that the cylinder sleeves don't come out.
> >
> > BTW, do I have to do both heads?  I notice that the passenger side
> > exhaust ports are discolored, especially on cylinder that is toward
> > the front.  I suspect that this is the only side that is leaking and
> > causing my billowing white smoke problem.
> >
> > Thanks for any help.
> >
> > -- Craig
> >
> > --
> > Craig Oda   craigoda@communitybuilders.info
> > VW Info: 1983 VW Westfalia, water-cooled, automatic
>