Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 22:04:38 -0500
Reply-To: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: head seal replacement
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The most important tool I can think of is going to be some JB Weld.
When you pull the heads you can easily inspect them for cracks and
pitting. If there are cracks between the valves I would recommend new
heads ($395 each from me). These cracks can be a source of combustion
gasses getting into the coolant and should not be ignored (you should
at least have the heads pressure tested at a machine shop if you wonder
about them). The JB Weld is for any pitting on the heads, but also for
the case as well. Inspect and clean the area of the case where the
headgasket is installed. Use a flashlight and some aluminum oxide
sandpaper. Fill any pits in the case with the JB Weld as well and when
it dries sand it smooth and even with the surrounding metal.
If you need an engine gasket kit let me know as I have them with both
sealants (yellow and black) for $120. Happy head hunting!
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
Phone: 856-327-4936
Fax: 856-327-2242
----- Original Message -----
From: Ed Carroll <ecarroll@MAINE.RR.COM>
Date: Thursday, February 6, 2003 8:42 pm
Subject: head seal replacement
> I'm just looking for a little moral support here.
>
> I've got an 87 half camper with 195,000 miles and a Canadian VW
> rebuild that's supposedly about 40-50,000 miles on. It's got the
> classic early stages of head gasket leak -- a few tablespoons in
> the driveway when the temp.'s below freezing -- with no other
> related problems. I put it in my parents' garage for the winter,
> as they're away and leant us a car and I didn't want the problem
> to expand, as it were.
>
> Now it's finally warm enough in Maine to attempt the re-seal job
> in a hard-to-heat garage, and I'm going up this weekend to begin.
> I figure in the first 12 hours or so of work I have the chance to
> disassemble most pertinent things and see what I can break and
> what additional parts I may need. My question for this august and
> learned body is: What's the one thing you know from doing this
> yourself that I should either avoid or be sure to do?
>
> As background: Yes, I've read the Bentley (which asks that I pull
> the jugs completely) and the Haynes. I've searched the archives
> and kept abreast of the list discussion that's on-topic and I have
> time for. I've visited the many excellent member sites -- with
> reverence for the list members who have documented their work
> before me -- and printed out the best info I could find. Also, I'm
> working in the anticipation that the Bus Depot total gasket kit
> truly does have nearly all I'll need, though I'm thinking of
> following the many suggestions that I spend the five bucks on
> better sealant.
>
> But, the van and garage are 90 minutes removed from me, and I'm
> afraid I'll forget some unanticipated tool or goop. I will be list-
> inaccessible while I'm there, and therefore unable to pop the
> quick question.
>
> So, who can tell me the step that especially busted their chops or
> hung them up, or the tool I shouldn't leave home without? Any last
> advice?
> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Ed Carroll
>
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