Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 21:11:33 -0500
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Dreaded water jacket head gasket leak strikes
In-Reply-To: <010201d13b8e$7c3ad400$74b07c00$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Go for the Subaru. You'll be glad you did. The conversion will present
its own set of challenges, but very worth it in the long run.
Larry A.
On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 8:25 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:
> Now that both heads are leaking I’m going to pull the engine. I can’t
> bend over for that long to fix both of them! The donor Subaru is here, we
> might just put its engine in as is given this much work to fix a piece of
> junk.
>
>
>
> Stuart
>
>
>
> From: Alistair Bel [mailto:albell@shaw.ca]
> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 4:05 PM
> To: Stuart MacMillan
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Dreaded water jacket head gasket leak strikes
>
>
>
> I think it's here, the worst pin was hard, but I had the engine on a stand
> so I could rotate the engine so the pin would hang just right and be
> inserted. I also used a cut down ring compressor to get the Pistons in.
>
>
>
> I know folk do I the heads with engine installed, but jeez it could be
> real hard if things get sticky. Almost, almost easier to pull the engine.
> But then you might be tempted to replace other things and the job gets
> bigger.
>
>
>
> Alistair
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> https://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/vanagon-q-and-d-head-replacement-am-i-winning/
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 20, 2015, at 12:21 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Yeah, how did you do that? The Bentley shows sleeve is installed over the
> piston, then the assembly is inserted over the rod and the pin and clip
> inserted. I've had problems getting piston pins out of different engines,
> and I don't have those VW tools. They even have a reamer for removing
> burrs
> on the piston to get that pin out.
>
> At that point I'd likely have to have the whole mess towed to a shop. I
> may
> just do that now.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Alistair Bel
> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 12:08 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Dreaded water jacket head gasket leak strikes
>
> I pulled the cylinders and put in the new o rings ( I had the gasket set).
> Then I had the fun of compressing rings etc.
>
> Alistair
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 20, 2015, at 11:32 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>
> I had the same, one sleeve was really stuck to the head, and pulled out
>
> about an inch. Several folks told me when that happens you MUST replace the
> black O ring at it's base. Others said don't bother. Problem was, both
> these
> opinions came from respected sources! Supposedly it is possible to replace
> that O ring without pulling the sleeve off the piston, but I'll be damned
> if
> I could figure out how to do it. I chose not to replace the O ring, and had
> no problems-again, only in 5,000 miles.
>
>
>
>
>
> Oh, one other thing. I had a dickens of a time getting the head off the
>
> cylinders on one side. It was really stuck and I think I ended up pulling
> the cylinders from that side.
>
>
>
>
>
> Alistair
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 20, 2015, at 10:20 AM, Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>
>
>
> I did a quick and dirty head job a couple of years ago. Before I did it
>
> I tried the Subie stop leak and it did help a bit.
>
>
>
>
>
> I had a couple of spare used heads and I think I swapped in one when I
>
> found a crack between the valves on June of the heads I took off.
>
>
>
>
>
> There was some pitting on the heads and I filled that with jb weld. I
>
> used "Right Stuff" sealant on the big rubber seal. Seems to have worked out
> well, no leaks after two years. I was supposed to be putting in a different
> engine and this was just a fix until then. Still haven't put in a new
> engine.
>
>
>
>
>
> Anyway, pics of the jb weld part here
>
>
>
>
>
>
> https://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/vanagon-quick-and-dirty-head-recondi
> tioning/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Alistair
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 20, 2015, at 9:54 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>
>
>
> I had no luck with the Suby conditioner, but then my gasket was torn. I
>
> also paid a lot less than the $30.00 this Amazon ad claims is the list
> price, as I recall at the local Subaru dealer it was $2.50 a bottle. The
> FIRST head gasket replacement on mine lasted 300 miles-yes, I said the
> first. I was not happy that at 300 miles I developed another leak, this
> time
> around one of the head nuts. I was told by a couple of respected VW gurus
> that re-using a head may not work, as cracks can happen around the head
> stud
> passages. I purchased a "used" head from Go Westy for $350.00. They said it
> was used with very low mileage but it sure looked brand new to me. The
> second head gasket/head replacement went a LOT faster than the first one,
> lol. That repair lasted at least 5K miles. I say at least because I then
> sold the van. As far as I know it is still going strong. Jeff
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
>
> for now you may try this Subaru coolant conditioner
>
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-SOA635071-Coolant-System-Conditioner/dp/B00IGZP
>
> 2UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450574144&sr=8-1&keywords=subaru+coolant+conditi
> oner
>
>
>
>
>
> it's working well on my son's Jeep.. loss of coolant but no leak
>
> (internal
>
>
>
> leak)
>
>
>
>
>
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