Date:         Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:05:25 -0400
Reply-To:     lnjhogue@EASTLINK.CA
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff Hogue <lnjhogue@EASTLINK.CA>
Subject:      Re: My 2 cents on head leaks. Old hash I'm sure...
In-Reply-To:  <002b01c74f9e$e95fdf70$2f01a8c0@FirstLaptop>
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Hey Zoltan, Here's what works for me, this is from an air cooled trick that dates back to Feb 12 1952 when the first VW landed on the shores of North America for regular retail sale, here goes. With the head upside down and the cylinder void of any O-ring, add a little FINE valve grinding compound to the mating surfaces, no fire ring installed of course. Lap the cylinder into the corresponding combustion chamber till both surfaces have a nice dull uniform finish. Make sure to mark the cylinders so that they'll mate with the correct hole in the head. This also cleans the O-ring sealing surface on the head as the cylinder will fit inside  little deeper than if the firing ring were installed. Be absolutely certain to wash every trace of the valve grinding compound from the surfaces. Now, on an engine stand I turn the engine up so that the two cylinders I need to install the head on are up. I use Curil high temp anearobic (green) sealer for the push rod tube seals (and case halv
es) and a little, and I mean little, just enough sealer, (I would use the tube of Yellow goop that comes in the Elring gasket kits which is not much good for anything else)to let the firing rings stick in the head so I can lower the head gently over the studs, line up the push rod tubes to the heads and push the cylinder head down by hand enough to start the nuts, use the aforementioned sealer on the nut surfaces (cleaned nut surfaces) and torque as per Bentley. A note of caution: if you've have heads repaired, which is perfectly acceptable, by a reputable machine shop, make sure they are NOT coated or painted instead if cleaned, or you will have trouble cleaning the sealing surfaces off. I like to strip and glass bead blast my heads before I send them to be machined, and ask them NOT to paint them.
Hope this helps you, Jeff.

----- Original Message -----
From: Zoltan <zolo@foxinternet.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:43 pm
Subject: Re:      My 2 cents on head leaks. Old hash I'm sure...

> Thanks for the input Jeff,
> I did not put many together and I did not have any problem with
> leaking
> coolant either.  But I had trouble often with exhaust gas going
> into the
> coolant or the coolant going into the combustion chamber and
> blowing out on
> the exhaust.  The fire ring did not seal well.  I was not sure if
> the
> seating of the head was straight.  I was looking for some compound
> to put
> the fire ring in with to help me to seal off the exhaust gases or
> the
> coolant out.
> I wonder, what you can tell me to help.
> Thanks again,
> Zoltan
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeff Hogue" <lnjhogue@EASTLINK.CA>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 4:44 AM
> Subject: My 2 cents on head leaks. Old hash I'm sure...
>
>
> >I too have rebuilt/resealed many (maybe hundreds) of boxer engines
> over the
> >past 23 years. I don't hear any talk about the head studs being
> stretched.
> >The heads are held to the block with very little torque, and the
> hardware
> >integrity is very important. Just compare a new stud with a
> previously used
> >one, maybe on that has been torqued 2, 3, 4 or more times and it's
> obvious
> >that they do stretch. Also, sealer on these head gaskets is very
> important,
> >I use perm-a-tex ultra grey and have never had a problem. Ever.
> But be very
> >careful not to use too much. This is not a case of lot is good,
> more is
> >better and too much is just right, like my fathers view on
> horsepower. On
> >the top of the block I use the same ultra grey. Be absolutely
> certain to
> >clean, clean, clean the sealing surfaces, use alcohol base cleaner
> or
> >something that won't leave a residue.
> >
> > I'm sure this has been bounced around plenty, so forgive me for
> the broken
> > record... That's my 2 cents on the leking head gasket talk that
> seams to
> > haunt the list.
> > Jeff Hogue
> > 84 Westy
> > 87 Syncro Doka
> > 8? Iltis Diesel
> > 03 Jetta TDi Wagon
> > 90 son
> > 94 daughter
> > 62 wife.....
> >
> >
> > --
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> > 2007.02.12.
> >
> >
>