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Date:         Fri, 7 Jan 2005 15:13:40 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: 85 1.9 GL- No.VA head gasket repair shop?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

You trifle with the Vanagods at your peril.

Cya, Robert

----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Sisler" <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 2:35 PM 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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