Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:24:27 -0500
Reply-To: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: Check my head?
Good thing Ken posted that good reply, oufff...
Any old VW should directly go IN THE GARBAGE! No mater if they have crack or
not. AMC have good casting, EX valve are somewhat on the cheap side and can
easily be replace by VW one. Using the old head is just begging for
problems. I took back 2 job last year, in both cases i had decided to re-use
the head (no crack what so ever), bang, one year later both had cracks.
Both customers had agree on such a risk so they both paid for the job...
that they had paid a year before.
Ben
http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
On Mon, 8 Feb 2010 15:53:38 -0800, Sheilah Rogers <sheilah@SHEILAH.ORG> wrote:
>My limited understanding (based on a convo with my mechanic all too
recently) is that the argument against using new heads (assuming AMC Spanish
ones) is that they're a lower quality then the factory rebuild (which my
van's currently sporting).
>
>Also, my mechanic seems to think that even when buying new ones, it's
better to open them up and clean them out since sometimes they get gunk in
them or whatever which leads to early problems: like what I'm dealing with
now with two very leaky heads (~20%) on one cylinder after just a measly 40k
miles.
>
>(Wow, I hope I said all that right amidst all you mechanics out there).
>
>Anyways, (if I did understand and convey this clearly) this is my
mechanic's argument to NOT put in new heads and instead to rebuild my
current heads (to the tune of $1550ish, which does not include the porting
but does includes a high labor rate of $120 p/hour which I'm still not
comfortable with either.)
>
>Fwiw...
>
>s.
>
>
>
>On Jan 28, 2010, at 4:10 AM, Ken Wilford wrote:
>
>> Aaron, unless the heads come off and have no cracks between the valves I
>> wouldn't bother to have them redone. That is just my opinion but I have
>> done, many, many of these jobs and never had one come back because of a
>> head problem in the course of 11 years. What I would recommend is
>> replacing the heads with new ones. The new ones are $475 each plus you
>> would also need an engine gasket kit for $149. So you are looking at
>> around $1099 in parts but you wouldn't have to pay for any of the
>> machine work that they are quoting you since the new heads would also
>> have new stud holes for the exhaust to attach to. I would include my
>> step by step head gasket installation guide and you could do the work
>> yourself and save that money. It is not a difficult job to do yourself
>> as long as you go step by step you should not have a problem.
>>
>> Reusing old heads can cause two problems. The first is that the cracks
>> between the valves can get bigger once the old heads are put back on.
>> This can lead to combustion gases getting up into the coolant and then
>> you have to do the whole job over. The other problem is that the
>> original VW heads had a weak spot near one of the head stud holes. When
>> you retorque an old head there is a good possibility that the head will
>> crack externally near the head stud hole. Now you will think you have a
>> leaky head nut but it is actually a crack and will require you to
>> replace that head anyway. Do you see why I use new heads. They come
>> ready to install with new valves and springs.
>>
>> Let me know if I can help you further,
>> Ken Wilford
>> John 3:16
>> www.vanagain.com
>>
>>
>>
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