Date:         Mon, 6 Nov 1995 23:56:42 -0700
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         rickgo@halcyon.com (Rick Gordon)
Subject:      re: 82 westy rebuild - compression data 

>     I had a leak down test done today, and here's the numbers.
>
>     Since I can't recall which cylinder is which number (where's that
>     manual?) here's a visual, looking down:
>
>
>     front
>     -------
>
>     18%  42%
>     12%  43%
>     -------
>     rear
>
>     These values were percent leakage as measured on the guage. Looked
>     like there was >100 psi coming in.  It's interesting that the right
>     hand set were so much lower.  The PO said that the right hand heads
>     had been worked on - though he couldn't remember when.
>
>     All the plugs were pretty clean, no gunk, except the one from the rear
>     right hand (is that #3) which had a white deposit on it.  I've put
>     5,000 miles on it since I got it.
>
>     I saw some engines lying around and they seem fairly simple - so this
>     winter holds a rebuild for christmas - my girlfriend agreed to let me
>     use her garage... I'm sure I'll have to pay in kind ;).
>
>     I'd like to drive from CO to MD for Thanksgiving.  Any opinions on how
>     that will affect the beauty ? (other than 'more wear').

This sounds just like my story - the resulting leakage caused the thing to
run *really* hot - luckily I had my trusty head & oil temp gauges installed
so I could at least let it cool off before I ruined anything else. That was
a real slow trip. Going from CO to MD you at least have a tail wind, and
the weather is sure not going to be too warm, so you might make it.

My advice: figure out why its leaks - rings, valves or head sealing rings.
If you're lucky you can just flycut the heads, maybe lap the valves, and it
will be good as new.

-rick

Rick Gordon
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
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