Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:59:47 -0500
Reply-To: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: head gaskets
Head thread, mmm, this one is dated DEC 2009, there is head thread every few
months and that for the last 14 years.
Nothing as change, same problem same questions.
Do some searching, you will find a lot of stuff.
I sealed over 55 wasser engine in the past 7 years, yeap, i count them last
week.
I will not and never again reuse stock VW heads, worse decision you can ever
take.
Using a 20 +yo casting? tell me why you should choose such a path. A crack
somewhere is eminent and NORMAL! And don't think they only crack from the
inside and NOT only between valve, plain wrong. Cracking is ONE problem,
pitting, stud stretching, head not mating properly are other know problem.
Crack can occur in different location: Outside between spark plug - head
stud - and anywhere else for that matter. Inside it can occur also anywhere
around the exhaust port.
This summer we cleaned the shop, again, 22 old heads in some box, i kept
them just in case i could save some. Some years ago i posted here saying i
have never seen many cracked heads... he he he. Why the heck i did such a
post i don't know??? I was blinded i guess.
20 heads went to the metal guy. 6 engine block/core also, the water jacket
side was so damage that they could not be save.
Picture of the day:
http://www.benplace.com/ron/old_engine2.jpg
Some of you guys should not own a Vanagon, it seem that you don't have the
money to fix them properly. They are high maintenance van/engine. I see so
many young kid buying a cheap Vanagon to go surfing or for similar reason
and soon after they cry for help on forum or mailing list because they have
engine trouble and they can't fix them.
Any good running Vanagon will end up costing you at least 20K$.
I have many pictures and videos showing how to properly sealed those heads
http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta
Have fun
Unless you fix those engine properly, you are driving a time bomb.
Ben
http://www.benplace.com
