Date:         Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:58:45 -0600
Reply-To:     vanagonvw <ac.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         vanagonvw <ac.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Head bolts, studs turning?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi folks,

I am working the engine on my 81 air cooled.

I have my engine out, and  in a place where I can start digging in and
replacing the head(s) I wish I had an engine stand, but I am not sure
one would work without a bellhousing. Anyone ever try to rig an engine
stand to the case? Dunno if it would be a good idea.

For those who  have pulled the heads, I am not quite ready to unbolt the
head, but I did put a socket on the top four and twist a bit, and they
all turned slightly, without too much effort, and then it got really
hard, so I figured that was enough and I would go back to pulling tin,
and doing the exhaust side of things.

Will the studs turn? I have PB blasted the bolts, and will continue to
do so, but they are pretty rusty, and it wouldn't suprise me to find
that they are so tight, that the studs start to turn.

Is that likely, and if so, what should I do about it, and how to
proceed. I ask ahead of time, as I will probably be doing that part late
at night, and there will be no one to ask, so I appreciate any and all
advice in that area.

I have to put in a positive review for a Crafstman Tool called "Bolt
Out" without which, I would  never have gotten the tin screws out of
most of the main piece that covers the cylinder on the top. After
cursing and swear, and doing all I know how, to get the last two SOB's
out, I got the right size "socket" from the kit, hammered it over the
now mangled screw head, and it pretty well turned that thing right out.
Made me very happy :-) For as much as I admire VW engineering, the fact
that those fasteners are screws rather than nuts pretty well proves that
not everyone who designed the product knew what they were doing.
<shrugh> It appears to me, that the worst part of the job is getting
those screws out and getting the tin out of the way, and then back on.
PITA, no matter who says its not a big deal.

John

P.S. do water cooled also have studs the same as the air cooled?