Date:         Mon, 10 Jun 2002 12:34:10 -0500
Reply-To:     wilden1@JUNO.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon handling.
Comments: To: mikei@ANCORE.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The steering control arms on the later model power steering arms are
shorter, IE you'll need to change the spindles.
Outer wheel bearings are bigger on the later models.
Springs will swap.
Rack and pinion will swap, using old 80 spindles.
I think I'd be looking for a simpler solution, new shocks, front end
alignment, ball joints or such and bypass the parts swapping.

Stan Wilder

On Mon, 10 Jun 2002 10:08:24 -0700 mike ingle <mikei@ANCORE.COM> writes:
> 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
> >
>

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