Steven,

I purchased new heads when mine went. I compression is good that is all I would do.

Charles Michaux

---------- > From: Steven X. Schwenk <sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET> > To: Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU > Subject: head gasket death... > Date: Sunday, October 19, 1997 1:34 AM > > I got home and noticed the unmistakable smell of hot antifreeze back by > the engine when i climbed out of my 89 syncro westy this evening. I > smelled it before, but i thought it was coming from my leaky rear heater > core....but i changed the core last night....could it be...dare i crawl > under there to check... i did, and although the engine was cold and i > did not have time to start it...the alumnium around the head gasket...on > both heads...is stained and there is evidence of some corrision...this, > together with the smell and the 89,000 on the odometer do not bode well. > > my question: assuming the heads are bad (what, tis the season for head > failures...re the other recent lists), and given the 90,000 miles on the > current engine, should i replace the heads or the entire engine...? > from what i've read, it sounds like a good rebuilt is about twice the > cost of new heads, but, given my current mileage, a rebuild should last > at lest twice as long as new heads without a rebuild, assuming the > engine with new heads is good until about 150,000 (compression is good, > no oil consumption). > > has anyone been through this before who can give me a little guidance?