Date:         Thu, 6 Jul 2006 21:24:23 -0600
Reply-To:     David Johnson <davidj@ELPASOTEL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Johnson <davidj@ELPASOTEL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Air cooled vanagon
Comments: cc: jeff samboy <jsamboy@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <20060707030147.32738.qmail@web81213.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Greetings.

I just had the same thing happen to my '80 right after I bought it.
If you are really, really lucky, it is just a valve seat that has
come undone, and can be repaired.  But for the amount of work
involved to get to it, probably it is worthwhile to just get a new
head.  BusDepot has reman. heads for around $189, I think (with
improved valve seats, so they say) but the amount of work is fairly
substantial.  I just paid a garage to do it - was around $1200 for
the head.  Ouch, I know, but I needed it quickly, and I had not done
a head on a VW Vanagon, so I bit the bullet.  Be sure to get a new
valve cover gasket, and also get really good push-rod tube seals.
Two of mine leaked after the mechanic job (but that's what warranties
are for, right?)

David.