Date:         Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:37:59 -0400
Reply-To:     AAG - Larry Word <word_aag@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         AAG - Larry Word <word_aag@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      1985 - Driver's side top #3 (from front) head stud broken - what
              does it all mean?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

See my earlier (pre-insp.) post and excellant group answer...now this update.....

I take my left-side intake off today and discovered #3 top stud broken - it was laying there - top 1.5 inch. and nut were seperated.....source of my water leak!

So....obviously I must pull that head and probably that side's cylinder to gain enough access to attempt to "retract and repair that stud" - what is the procedure for the stud repair - new stud or heli-coil?   Is there a Vanagon-preferred stud kit?  If so, from which vendor?

Should I also worry about the other 7 stud on this side that appear OK....or the other side's head assembly - how far should I go into this OLD ENGINE.....

Any advice from folks who have done this B4 would be greatly appreciated.....

Thanks

Larry 
Ga.

Most likely the stud has failed. You may be able to re-tighten it but that
will be very risky. I would check the torque on the nut. If still tight
than you need to check for a cracked head. If loose then most likely you
have a stretched stud and you need to consider replacing all of them.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
AAG - Larry Word
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 10:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 1985 Vanagon - unique head leak - not at gasket - 1 inch to the
left at #2 top bolt?

My daily driver Vanagon has many miles on it.....

Today, in a mid-200 mile work trip, I sprung a leak - left (driver's) side
head.
It appears to be leaking from bolt #2 (counting from forwardmost bolt back
to rear of engine 1-4)

What would be occuring these heads were used and install probably 60K
miles ago w/o any troubles since.....

Larry
Ga.

What I'm asking is could the leak just be the bolt sealant or is my head
likely cracked?