Date:         Wed, 22 Jul 1998 15:46:01 -0400
Reply-To:     Rick Koller <rkoller@HELIX.NIH.GOV>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Rick Koller <rkoller@HELIX.NIH.GOV>
Subject:      Re: Head gasket questions...
Comments: To: arbosch@RA.ROCKWELL.COM, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
In-Reply-To:  <86256649.005335CD.00@ramilwsmtp01.ra.rockwell.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 10:22 AM 7/22/98 -0500, Alan Bosch wrote:
>The saga continues...
>The '88 Vanagon I'm looking to purchase will need new head gaskets - maybe
>new heads too.
>This came from the guy selling the van.  The body and interior are in very
>good shape.  Engine has 125k miles.  So I seek the collective knowledge of
>the list for the following:
>
>1)  Insight regarding replacing head gaskets, gaskets and heads, whole
>engine
>2)  DIY or take it to a shop, knowing that I rebuilt the engine in my old
>'82 Rabbit Diesel
>3)  Ball park costs for above - I won't hold anyone to anything.  Just want
>feedback to make a informed, eyes open decision.
>4)  Should I run away from this
>
>Thank you in advance.
>
>Alan Bosch
>
>
Alan,
        I was faced with this same scenario last summer when I bought my '91 with
high miles (97K miles) and head leaks. I was reluctant to attempt the
repair at first thinking I could try Barsleak to postpone the inevitable,
this strategy failed and I turned to the List Archives to peruse the
collected wisdom of others who successfully completed this repair. I read
descriptions by Tim Smith, Herb Harmisson, and Boston Bob (see his homepage
linked to the vanagon homepage). I got a lot of good information from these
treatises and decided to give it a try. I had worked on the air-cooled van
engine but not the wasserboxer so it took me a while to familiarize myself
with it but in the end it wasn't too tough a job just time consuming.  I
not only replaced the heads (AVP heads) but I reconditioned the pistons and
cylinders and installed new rings, new water pump and various hoses,seals
and pipes. I've driven it about 8000 miles since the repairs and its
hanging in there so I say go for it you'll learn a lot. You can p-mail me
for any more detailed questions you may have.

Rick Koller
'90 syncro-westie
'91 auto box