Date:         Fri, 22 Nov 2013 13:50:20 -0800
Reply-To:     Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Subject:      Re: off with her heads
In-Reply-To:  <000f01cedca3$c89aef20$59d0cd60$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi All,

I got the bolts fixed and the heads vacuum tested by the machine shop (if
you are in Vancouver, Alec's
https://plus.google.com/103170149757334342065/about?hl=en - they were
helpful and seemed pretty fair).  All good, and my 1984 NLA
thermostat/water-pump housing is saved from the snapped bolts... for now.

How important is it to hone a used cylinder.  The internet seemed full of
opinion on it.  I remember Dennis saying to carefully remove the carbon on
the top, but honing to help the "piston rings seat' (I am replacing the
rings) did not yield any clear answer on the great interent.

I had also asked them if they could clean up/smooth the surface area under
the compression gasket (where the head mates with the cylinder) and they
said they were not sure how to do that properly, but they had called around
to some other shops to ask and suggested I take it there (which I totally
respect them for admitting that).  I am considering doing this myself -
there is no major damage.  The worst is a small scratch from the (first and
only) use of a screwdriver to remove the compression gasket - the rest of
it is just carbon crap.

I am considering removing the engine to check the clutch, although I don't
have a floor jack and the engine is really high up from the ground (van is
up on blocks).  I might try the winch method, or just leave it.  Common
sense tells me I should check the clutch while I am in this deep (how deep
is the rabbit hole...).  And I'm sure I'll my sanity will thank me when I
put the piston rings on (without removing the pistons).

Tom