Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:46:45 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine Replacement or Gasket Fix?
In-Reply-To: <71d9cdf90808212043n5f74c572mb7c0605c13484a67@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I really do not worry about the exhaust studs or bolts if the heads are
coming off anyway. The drill press and heli-coils take care of it and
heli-coils actually make a stronger connection and they are stainless.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Jake de Villiers [mailto:crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 11:43 PM
To: Dennis Haynes
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Engine Replacement or Gasket Fix?
I haven't noticed anybody mentioning the REAL hard part about the head
re-seal ie the exhaust manifold studs.
I'm sure that's the reason the old guy doesn't like doing them - the
studs, especially on a Rust-belt van, are going to be very difficult for
an experienced pro, let alone a beginner.
Swapping a whole motor with exhaust attached would be cake Robert but
those studs are as tricky as it gets in auto repair....
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 7:42 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
Here on Long Island most shops are getting $90/hour and up. Some of the
dealers are well over $100.
While Vanagon head gaskets are usually not all that bad an ordeal, things
do go wrong. If I was paying for the work, I would want someone that knows
what they may be getting into and be sure of what the costs will be when
things go south. What risks are they willing to take? Will you be out $500
for labor and have a scrap engine if a stud breaks? Negotiate what they
will eat up front.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Richard A Jones
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Engine Replacement or Gasket Fix?
> I would not want anyone who dislikes waterboxers and wants to charge 80
an
> hour touching it.
I'm in Glenwood Spring, Colorado, and gas here costs 50 cents more than
the Front Range (Denver, etc.) Well, so does labor (and labour, too!)
Boulder-Denver labor is $85-90, but one of the shops here that knows
old VWs and Vanagons is $120. Everything costs more here.
So for one part of the country to rate the costs in another doesn't
have much validity.
I agree about "anyone who dislikes waterboxers...."
Richard
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
