Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (January 2006, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:32:27 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Head Retorquing On New Engine
Comments: To: Stephen DeMocko <SDeMocko@FDSMFG.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <851A1826C2045C4BB5554C352A02D0BE013DB6@neptune.fdsmfg.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

If the studs are good, the cap nuts new, and things are properly torqued, there is no need to re-torque the heads. If the heads do come loose, it is because the studs are failing. Re-torqueing will only stretch the studs' further and in the future, they will loosen again, or snap. Also, when they get re-torqued, the sealant under the cap nut will get disturbed and this may cause leakage of coolant into the oil or externally.

Re-torqueing heads is a left over task from engines with soft gaskets that would compress and loosen shortly after installation and a few heat-cool cycles. The Waterboxer head sits directly on the cylinder with only that metal gasket. The only compression is actually the studs stretching. Like a spring, if they are stretched too far, they will loose their shape. Also, if they have been overheated or over torqued, they need replacement.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Stephen DeMocko Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 4:42 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Head Retorquing On New Engine

Volks, I too am nervous 4k mi. into my Go-Westy 2.2L. It has always been my belief that you should re-torque the heads, but when I questioned Go-Westy about this topic I was told it was unnecessary. Stephen DeMocko ('85 Westy Luci)

-----Original Message----- From: Larry Chase [mailto:roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM] Sent: Friday, January 27, 2006 1:31 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Head Retorquing On New Engine

Richard,

I totally agree.

In the case of my AVP ... we did check these at installation.

All seemed fine.

But 10,000 - 12,000 miles later 9 were loose enough to cause combustions gasses to

leak into the coolant.

larry chase

roadhaus.com

- - -

On Fri Jan 27 14:17 , Richard A Jones sent:

>

>I'd suggest that ALL rebuilds be checked before

>installation, not just AVP. My '81 aircooled has

>an engine from an east coast rebuilder and it

>had some through-bolts that were not torqued

>properly and later the heads act as if they are not

>torqued. It leaks coolant when warming up, but

>that coolant isn't an issue. ;-)

>

>I would check all the engine and head bolts before

>putting an engine in. It would be worth the

>small extra cost compared to later. (The aircooled

>has all that tin in the way after installation.)

>

> Richard A Jones

> Boulder, Colorado

>


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.