Date:         Thu, 6 Feb 2003 20:42:20 -0500
Reply-To:     Ed Carroll <ecarroll@MAINE.RR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ed Carroll <ecarroll@MAINE.RR.COM>
Subject:      head seal replacement
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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