Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 17:35:46 -0500
Reply-To: Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: 85 1.9 GL- No.VA head gasket repair shop?
Hello,I repaired the head gasket on my 1985 westy.It cost $12.I'll tell you
how.First,some background. I had recently become a vanagon owner for
the first time, and needed an exhaust pipe replaced on my ride.The 1-3
exhaust pipe.It had burned a hole at the flange and the po had welded the
nut onto the stud by mistake in a repair attempt. Had to get it cut off.I
went to a shop in Takoma Park Md. that seemed to do work on old vw's.I
asked the owner to replace the pipe. He said"ya know,this will cost you
more than this thing is worth".I didnt understand what he was talking
about,as my westy wasnt all that bad.I said go ahead and do it.When he was
done,I consulted about doing another repair. He said "you better put that
on the back burner,you have bigger problems". He didnt offer to
elaborate,and again I didnt understand what he was talking about.I
left.When I got home ,I discovered that my head gasket was leaking at the
#3 cylinder.Hummmmmmmmmm.What could I say?A wbx w/155,000 on it.Passed due
if you ask most people.Anyway,if I couldnt fix it,the engine would be
fried.Cant replace heads and gasket at that mileage very easily.Not worth
it w/gaskets costing $75 each.What to do????? I tried every stop leak known
to man-in various combinations.I called manufactures of the stuff for
suggustions.All said their product would work.Of course they
didnt.Especially enthusiastic was the block sealer lady.Lucky I passed
here.Then I decided on my plan. I drained the coolant from the
moter,and jacked the van up on the front right corner to drain any
remaining coolant away from the #3 cylinder where the leak was.I then used
an exacto knife to cut out about 1.5 inches of offending head gasket,where
the leak was.I could stick my pinkie inside the water jacket!It was do or
die now.I placed a hair dryer on the hole for 2 (two) days and dryed out
the inside of the water jacket.Bone dry!!I then got 3 tubes of a JB weld
stick like product called magnum steel($4/Auto Zone,or Walmart).It is good
to 500 degrees. I cut the puddy into 1 inch pieces and 1 by one mixed
them.I pressed the puddy into the hole and used a home made tool to reach
into the water jacket to "mushroom"the puddy on the inside.I overlapped the
hole by about 1 inch on all sides.It look like a big grey wart.Would it
hold?????If it didnt,I would propably be out of the vanagon business before
I could acquire all the debt from parts that I currently have.Drat!Well I
doubled the 15 minute drying time to 30 minutes to be sure .I flled the
cooling system and fired the beast up.No Leakkkkkkk.I couldnt believe
it ,but it was true.That was over 20,000 ago,and still no leak.I would take
this van anywhere, and never be concerned about a blown head gasket at the
point where I repaired it.I now have 176,000 on the old wbx,and am going
for a mileage record.You must remember,my head gasket damage was not caused
by corrosion.A corroded head may be ready to leak in several places,where
mine only had damage in 1 area.But hey,If you have an old engine where
this leak will retire it,why not try.Only cost $12.It is ugly, and
definatly not kosher,but it will work.Good luck,Roger Sisler.
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