Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:14:07 -0400
Reply-To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine Replacement or Gasket Fix?
In-Reply-To: <4d1b79350808191648n4a34f1b5ld834ba8e55b3e330@mail.gmail.com>
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I know it's a taboo option and rarely discussed on the list, but what about
a used engine? There are two distinct categories of used engines...."good
Used" or "Known Good", and "Used" or "unknown". You can luck out with
either, as either one might be a much cheaper alternative to a full rebuild
and last you many thousands of miles. Mind you you get no warranty, and you
have no knowledge really of wheter or not it's up to snuff, but they can be
a good value. I've seen plenty of good used engines selling for $500. Heck,
i'm sure you could find one in that price range even out there in NY. If
not, i'm looking into another parts van right now.....it might have an
engine?
If you don't do your own work....that's cool. But, i'm sure there's someone
in your area who would be willing to help you out as best they can, there
are still many great people in this world and on this list, contrary to what
some may believe. If you were to have your mechanic do the work, i'd go for
the heads. The cost of the engine swap really won't get you much if it's an
unknown engine.....and if you know your engine runs good (But i wouldn't
hesitate to think that you may find cracks in between the valves of your
heads, need of new valve guides or stems, or just terrible corrosion
problems associated with the head gaskets and wrong coolant), i'd go with
just a head job on your known good engine. Even if you were to have brand
new heads installed, your looking at less than $1000 in parts, as apposed to
buyign a rebuild or a used engine.
If i were on a budget and didn't do my own work, that's what i'd do.
If i were on a budget and didn't do my own work, but just found that a large
amount of time has oppened up in my life, i'd do what i could to find a hand
and compensate them as need be, in order to help do the mechanics and learn
it, and i'd swap the heads or swap the engine.
-Craig
'85Westy Sunroof with a rebuilt/new heads engine of unknown condition.
On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 7:48 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> The Barr's stop leak was meant to stop leaks in the compression
> (inner) head gasket. Your leak is in the outer rubber gasket. The
> Barr's didn't help me at all and made a big mess that I had to take
> care of when I finally did go through the engine.
>
> What I found was that if my wife had not overheated it, it probably
> would have been good for another 60K at least! the bearings looked
> good.
>
> The head gasket replacement, if you did it yourself, would be about
> $150, mostly for gaskets.
>
> The heads are not cracked, or if they are, you didn't mention it. It's
> just a leaking rubber gasket. Maybe you could have a shop just pull
> off the one that's leaking to get you around for a while.
>
> Jim
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 6:24 PM, Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@mac.com>
> wrote:
> > I agree on all fronts.
> >
> > I was thinking of using these Bars Stop leaks products till I get the
> > heads done.
> >
> > Any thoughts?
> >
> > http://www.barsleaksdifm.com/hg3.htm
> >
> > What should a 2 gasket head job cost?
> >
> > R
> >
> > On Aug 19, 2008, at 7:21 PM, B Feddish wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> If it's a choice between an engine by Jake and doing the heads I'd
> >> do the
> >> heads. I can't possibly see how anyone can rebuild an engine for
> >> $975. It's
> >> just too good to be true. If your engine was running fine before
> >> the leak
> >> then just do the heads.
> >>
> >> Also, if Ken says "without many returns" I'd still be worried. To
> >> return a
> >> bad engine it means someone paid $1,500 to have it put in their van
> >> only to
> >> have it fail. That's allot of lost cash....
> >>
> >> Bryan
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> >> Behalf Of
> >> Robert Stewart
> >> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:09 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Re: Engine Replacement or Gasket Fix?
> >>
> >> I read the note that was mentioned. Ken M. seems like such a nice guy
> >> on the phone, he admitted mistakes were made by him in the past he
> >> said he has been selling these engines on ebay without many returns at
> >> all, maybe I am just sucker.
> >>
> >> Right now I can't afford to spend $3K on an engine and $1200 for the
> >> install.
> >>
> >> I may just go and do the heads for now till I get another job.
> >>
> >> What is the worse that can happen?
> >>
> >> In another 30,000 miles the heads crack again? I get bad performance
> >> out of it?
> >>
> >> R
> >>
> >>
> >> On Aug 19, 2008, at 6:41 PM, Bill Glenn wrote:
> >>
> >>> Re: Jake4Parts.
> >>> If you want to read the yahoo thread for yourself, go to:
> >>> http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro, search the last month
> >>> for "Jake", and make your own decision.
> >>>
> >>> Bill
> >>
> >
>
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