Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 20:09:18 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: More On My Head Job
In-Reply-To: <12049416.44093.1392476639068.JavaMail.root@sz0063a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>
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The rear pipe can easily be changed with the engine in the vehicle. I doubt anyone has ever pulled an engine to do an exhaust except in the case of broken studs or bolts on the heads and they don’t have the tools/skills to deal with it in place.
I would do a real careful inspection of the gaskets on the other side. Any sign of splitting or popping and it should be done.
Many Vanagon engines get that bronze copper color inside the heads. I am not sure why, probably from the oil additives including copper.
a noticeable performance improvement.
Since the cylinders have been disturbed consider oil testing 1,000 miles or so after it is back together. Antifreeze in very small quantities can be very damaging in the crankcase and testing will pick it up. Just because you don’t see it doesn't mean it is not there.
For the crankcase oil leak, not all are due to a rear main seal. There are Waterboxers that like to leak. Fun Bus has since new. I have found some with cracked cases in front of #3 cylinder just like the beetle motors liked to do. Look carefully while the engine is out. Bad main bearings will contribute to leaking also.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of J Stewart
Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2014 10:04 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: More On My Head Job
Hows that for a catchy subject line? But it the Vanagon list, we all know what I'm talking about. First I was just going to pull the head, then I was talked into dropping the engine, but the other night I ended up pulling just the head. It was easy, my biggest fear was pulling one or both sleeves off the pistons. #2 didn't stick at all, #1 did, but the tabs did their job, with just a very small amount of prying it let go. Now that I'm this far, though, I am back to dropping the engine. Several reasons: 1) the rear exhaust pipe needs changing, the one on there is nearly toast, and I have a perfect replacement. Getting it off with the engine in place is going to be nearly impossible 2) AFAIK, this is the original engine, at 155K miles. It was running really, really well except for the coolant leak from the head (seriously, if not for the coolant leak I'd have jumped in the van and driven it from coast to coast) I'm thinking new water pump is in order 3) evidence of a leak between the engine/trans, main seal? 4) it seems silly to do just one head, might as well do the other one too, and 5) I'm facing one of those life changing events in the spring, putting my house on the market and once it sells i don't know where I am going to end up and if I'll have a garage again anytime soon. Now, some questions-once I popped the valve cover off the right head, the top of the head, including the nuts, are a bronze color-is this an indication it has been overheated? I've seen a few, not a lot, of Vanagon heads and I've never seen one this color-I have not popped the other valve cover to see what the other head looks like (I do also have a complete spare engine) Next question: does anyone know of an exhaust coating that doesn't burn off in 30 minutes? (and to list vendors, thanks, but no thanks, I'm not buying an $1,800-2,000.00 stainless exhaust, I'd put that money towards a Bostig first) Like I said, I have some perfect exhaust pipe replacements and I'd like to make them last. Thanks all! Jeff
Jeff Stewart
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