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Date:         Mon, 14 Mar 2005 09:06:34 -0500
Reply-To:     Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: head update (still bad) and a question and voting
Comments: To: Jere Hawn <jghawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <!~!UENERkVCMDkAAQACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgAAAAAAAAAt8wkmzovwUmJTzH5xYVTH8KAAAAQAAAAOsbcnElCnk6MLHbdQampNAEAAAAA@earthlink.net>
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Never, never, never use rebuilt heads! That is all I can say. I am not getting on you for trying to save a couple of bucks, however do you see the reason why I advise you to never use rebuilt heads?

They are junk, and they are not a "good deal". This is one of those jobs that if you do it right the first time you should not have to do it again for several years, if ever(depending on your length of ownership). I think if a person of average ability mechanically speaking uses the Bentley and takes thier time they will do it right the first time as long as they use quality parts putting it back together. The problem most first timers have is that they try to cut corners and save a few bucks (which is admirable) however they are cutting corners that those of us who have done tons of these jobs would never cut.

Here is how rebuilt heads are not a good deal. Rebuilt heads are $219 plus a $50 core charge (from a vendor who sells them). If your old heads have cracks between the valves you can kiss your core charge good bye. If your heads didn't have cracks why would you replace them? Anyway, so you are looking at $269 for someone else's junk head that has been rewelded. Or you could spend a little more than $100 more and get a brand new head, made of a better alloy that doesn't corrode and a thicker casting that doesn't crack as easily. And you could do this job one time and then enjoy driving your van (instead of looking up at the motor while laying on your back under the van, and getting that last little drip of coolant right in the eye- you know what I mean!).

OK, that's my rambling for the morning.

Ken Wilford John 3:16 www.vanagain.com

Jere Hawn wrote:

>Hi, > > > >For those that are following the saga, I got and oil ring (thanks Bob), and >I put it together!!! As I was putting in the last exhaust bolt I saw a drip >on the pipes, yes, coolant from the exhaust port on the suspect cylinder. > > > >I rolled up a piece of paper towel and stuck it in through the plug hole... >no coolant. So I finished putting it back together, thinking that I had >just spilled some since the exhaust port is right below the thermostat >housing. Fired her up and she ran like a dream.. Beautiful.... Then the >steam started. #$!%@\!%$%# > > > >First I checked the cylinder with a piece of rolled up paper towel, no >coolant. I pulled the exhaust pipe back off and got out all the lights and >mirrors I had. And yes coolant coming out of the port. I stuck my finger >in to feel how much coolant there was, barely any. Then with the finger >inspection, no pooling by the valve??? Then I looked through the port and >what did I see, it appears to be a hole right above the valve seat but I >need to look further... > > > > > >Tomorrow I'll pull the head for the second time, this is getting expensive. > > > >Question, if it is a bad head should a person ask the seller of the >remanufactured head for reimbursement for parts destroyed/used? > > > >Jere > > > > >


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