Date:         Thu, 25 Mar 2004 18:28:52 -0500
Reply-To:     MICHAEL POPE <raskayamon@MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         MICHAEL POPE <raskayamon@MSN.COM>
Subject:      89 Westy / $ of head gaskets
Comments: To: Vanagon man <vgonman@msn.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Well I am thinking about just keeping it. I have come this far and have sooo much in it. Had it pressure tested for 24 hours with no loss of pressure and leak down tested for the same time period. No visible signs of coolant in cylinders. She NEVER overheats- I go on 2-3 hour drives all the time / she just overflows now and then- not even every time I drive it on the freeway. About once a week she will spit a little coolant out of the overflow tank / then the expan tank is low so I drain the tank behind the plate down to min mark and refill and bleed tank in engine. I notice coolant smells every now and then. I am going to inspect front heat exchanger this weekend. Drove to work and back today (over pass on new I 26) with front heat valve closed and did not seem to have any problems...Would just like to fix it with camping season ahead. Maybe the beer just got me on a roll?

Oh yeah price for head gaskets was $350 labor/ 10 hours @ 35 per hr. Mech works out of his house + parts. I am not sure of the price of a gasket kit.


Cheers,
Michael