Date:         Tue, 12 Mar 1996 23:35:44 -0600
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         ehintz@mail.utexas.edu (Edmund A. Hintz)
Subject:      Re: new heads

>Get a 50cc syringe from a vet or pharmacy, level the head and do a rough
>check of the chamber volume.  The object is to get a reasonably accurate idea
>of their volume.  Do all four.  Take their average.  Use it when computing
>your compression ratio.  (If the chamber is larger than 50cc, put a  marble
>in it.  Use the same marble in all four chambers.)
>
>Measure your deck height and compute your compression ratio.  Make sure your
>compression ratio isn't too high.  Anything over 7.3:1 is liable to have
>trouble with today's fuels.  If too high, add a spacer under the cylinder.
> If you don't have the formulas handy, ask me.
        Ok, when measuring chamber volume, how do I plug up the spark plug
hole? I don't have any old sparkplugs laying around at the moment. Also, I
need the formulae, I've never done this before.

        Don't know if you saw my general post earlier today about the used
oil coolers. The local yard wants $60 for a complete doghouse setup-but
it's all used, including the cooler. New ones seem to run around $90, ouch.
Do you think I'm better off with a used doghouse? Or should I stick with
the upright? I don't know what condition my cooler is in, when I pull the
engine if I find it trashed then I'll obviously want to go with a doghouse.
The cash thing is a drag though. Brought up the possibility of a doghouse
to the wife, she had a fit about how much money these things cost. She's
obviously got her head where the sun don't shine if she thinks she can get
a new car for these kinds of prices, but how does one reason with
unreasonable emotion? Been thinking about making a nice calculation of how
much all of this has cost since day 1, but I doubt it would do anything
more than antagonize. Until she has AC and a smooth-as-silk-ride I guess
I'll just have to deal with it. Sorry for venting at you...

Peace,
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Edmund A. "Eddie"  Hintz     **|**     "You may say I'm a dreamer,
Voice Major, UT Austin      *  |  *      But I'm not the only one...
<ehintz@mail.utexas.edu>   *  /|\  *     I hope someday you'll join us,
'70 Primered Transporter    */ | \*      And the world will live as one.
'73 Orange Super Beetle      *****      Imagine."
               Web page: http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~ehintz
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