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Date:         Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:53:48 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Leaking head nut
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

Isn't that funny. I haven't had an OE head crack like that ever.. but I have heard of it .

on the other hand ....I have had trouble with AMC heads.. hey, I've got one where with about one year's use on it I'll sell very reasonably.

my experience on AMC heads... be very careful about how much the squeeze the outer rubber water gasket. Commonly they pinch it there .....which can lead to leaking well before they should ever wear out. The gap is too small. and on one, the head sat tilted, not squeezing the water gasket enough on one end of the head, too much on the other.

and I hear they should have better exhaust valves put in them, even when new.

But at least the real problem is identified in this case !

YMMV as they say ! Scott www.turbovans.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don Hanson" <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 10:01 AM Subject: Re: Leaking head nut

> Try some "leak stop" crap. If you are planning on a new motor anyhow, > just > put some goo in there and drive it anyway...I dunno about WBX and stop > leak > crap, but I bet plenty of em are driving around right now full of that > stuff. I've used it in the past on some vehicles and done cross country > trips without leaks coming back. > > If you are lucky.. > Don Hanson > > On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 8:32 AM, Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote: > >> Roger, how do I know? Been There Done That. I feel your pain. Maybe >> someone has a good used AMC head they can sell you. >> >> >> Ken Wilford >> John 3:16 >> www.vanagain.com >> >> >> Roger VanTill wrote: >> >>> And the winner is............Ken Wilford! I took a good look at that >>> area and I can see the hairline crack. I'm f*cked! Due to unemployment >>> and a future Zetec install I couldn't afford to get new heads. They >>> looked fine and were only seeping at the gasket. >>> >>> Time to cry in my beer and figure out what's next. >>> >>> On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 8:08 AM, Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@comcast.net >>> <mailto:kenwilfy@comcast.net>> wrote: >>> >>> Roger, if you reused your old heads then what you have is a >>> hairline crack at the head nut. This is a common failure with the >>> OE VW heads as they have a thin spot right there and can crack >>> upon retorqueing. That is why I very, very rarely ever use them. >>> I always use the AMC heads which are brand new, but also they are >>> beefed up in this area to avoid this problem. Most of my >>> customers come here from at least 2 to 3 hours away. I don't want >>> them to have any problems because unlike a local shop, I just >>> don't have the "luxury" of taking chances and having people come >>> back. So I decided a long time ago that if a customer comes in >>> with heads that have any cracks between the valves, and we are >>> doing a head gasket replacement, I will always recommend new AMC >>> heads. I have never had one single problem with them over the >>> past 12 years of doing head replacements. Many happy Vanagons out >>> there still purring down the road. >>> >>> Just my opinion. >>> >>> >>> Ken Wilford >>> John 3:16 >>> www.vanagain.com <http://www.vanagain.com> >>> >>> >>> >>> Roger VanTill wrote: >>> >>> I rebuilt my 2.1 this spring. Was very careful, read >>> everything I could, >>> watched Ben's videos, etc. Got the motor and new tranny >>> installed. Filled >>> the system with coolant this afternoon. It's sitting there, >>> not started yet, >>> unpressurized. I've got a coolant leak coming from one of the >>> upper center >>> head bolts on the driver side. Tears are still falling as I >>> write this. >>> >>> Yes I sanded the bolts flat and cleaned up the mating surface >>> on the head. I >>> used the yellow goop that came with the gasket set. >>> >>> Should I just drain it, remove the leaking cap nut and reseal >>> it? Do I trust >>> the other 15? >>> >>> Looking for advice and a pat on the back to tell me it'll be >>> alright. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>


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