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Date:         Mon, 31 Mar 2014 22:24:39 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Replacing the Head Gaskets (Maybe the Head)?
Comments: To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <018401cf4cf8$d12a3b80$737eb280$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Thank you for the compliment and support. I can and on occasion do rebuild, overhaul, repair and ship engines and transmissions. It is just hard to compete with the folks that do it large scale and the bad installations often just make for a bad deal for me. One of the reasons many rebuilds don't last is that the cause for the original failure is not discovered and fixed until after that rebuild has suffered multiple traumas. All this happens during the most critical time of startup and break in.

While the Waterboxer may be a bit unique in some ways it is not the only engine to suffer from various failures of keeping the fluids where they should be. Most mechanics have dealt with oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil and should know how to deal with it. Countless engines have been ruined by simple things such as intake manifolds dumping coolant behind the intake valves. Even in non VW's stuff happens.

For the oil analysis it is now too late. That should come after repairs. If the van was here I would pull the suspect head to see what is there. As for being cheap one can even replace just the pistons/cylinders on one side. Sure it is not ideal but if the other side tests good why not?

If a person is willing to dive in then go for it. The engine isn't working now so take it a part. What's the worst that will happen? They'll have to buy a complete one and deal with the core charge. Afterwards the self-reliance will be more than worth the added costs if any. This is part of the joy of owning older vehicles for many.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Stuart MacMillan Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 11:50 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Replacing the Head Gaskets (Maybe the Head)?

Unfortunately, he doesn't have anyone like you nearby. He could replace the head, but if more is needed then it's a bunch of expensive new parts for him.

Have you ever thought of having a couple of crates made? You could probably do quite well on the east coast with both full and partial rebuilds!

At least the bottom half only has 65k on it, but I'd do an oil analysis before I'd fix only the head.

Stuart

-----Original Message----- From: Dennis Haynes [mailto:d23haynes57@hotmail.com] Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 7:19 PM To: 'Stuart MacMillan'; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: RE: Replacing the Head Gaskets (Maybe the Head)?

A full engine rebuild may not be necessary. I gave some diagnostic tips and what could be lurking. As you noted a full rebuild may not be the value thought. With good diagnostics, it may be possible to repair just what is needed and move on. I regularly repair engines that have failures like this including replacing a single piston and or cylinder. I have a number of used ones here. Measure and weight to match up the set and move on. I've also replaced single heads.

While there are those times that a part just fails most times engine failures are the result of a support system failure. Either now or in the past. Cracked heads are one of those symptoms.

Dennis


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