Many have had good "luck" filling in pitting with JB weld, making new or rebuilt heads unnecessary. I hang my head in shame that I have not yet finished the head leak survey results...but I promise that I will this week now that Ian is back from his latest adventure. This should tell us whether you need luck or JB weld to avoid buying new heads. steve The Bus Depot wrote: > > New heads would cost about another $1200... > > > Ouch. I didn't think they were that expensive, I thought you > > could get them for $300 a piece. > > Actually they're not quite that expensive. I list brand new 2.1L heads for > $399 each, or rebuilt 1.9's or 2.1's for $219 each plus $80 core. The new > heads are made by AMC/Spain (who, incidentally, is now the supplier of new > 2.1L heads to Volkswagen Of America, so if you order new heads from the > Dealer you get the same AMC heads). The rebuilt heads are AVP, and have new > metal welded to the surface and machined back to spec. Complete German > engine gasket kits (including everything for both heads plus bottom-end > gaskets and the sealant) are $129. > > That said, you may not need to automatically replace heads when doing a head > gasket job. You can take a look at the pitting and decide from there. If > the pits are small and do not extend across the surface of the head, you > have a good chance of being able to re-use the heads. I have taken this > chance a number of times on various Vanagons where the pitting was not > severe, and have had good luck every single time. But of course the stakes > are high; if they do leak, you'll have to get the job done all over again. > > Do you feel lucky? :-) > > - Ron Salmon > The Bus Depot > http://www.busdepot.com > (215) 234-VWVW |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.