Date:         Thu, 9 Sep 1999 10:47:37 -0700
Reply-To:     "Johnson, Darrell" <JohnsonD@SYBRONDENTAL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Johnson, Darrell" <JohnsonD@SYBRONDENTAL.COM>
Subject:      Re: waterboxer overhaul,
              more power and Australian coolant proble m fix?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

A side note on this. Here in Southern California, Fast German Auto (
http://www.fastgermanauto.com ) also offers a valve performance modification
for "heavy breather" heads for the waterleaker. For my upcoming rebuild I
plan to install them. As far as I know, they make no corrosion reduction
claim for this particular mod, though.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dom [mailto:dmoon@METZ.UNE.EDU.AU]
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 10:30 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: waterboxer overhaul, more power and Australian coolant
problem fix?


Hi

In relation to the head leaks, Vintage VW in Sydney Australia have come up
with a theory and a product to eliminate/greatly reduce?  the chance of this
happening again.

Their theory, and they know enough about VW's to provide reasonable
assurance that it's well informed if not proven, is that the problem occurs
due to an engine hotspot as the coolant passes through the head. At a point
during this passage the coolant reaches boiling point or close too but cools
down again as it circulates throughout the system. Thus the need to replace
coolant not too irregularly as this hotspot somehow transform's the
composition of the coolant into something more corrosive. (please bare with
me, Im writing from memory of reading an article on the subject in an Aussie
VW magazine about 2 years ago. I'll try and find it this weekend) The older
the coolant therefore, the more corrosive it becomes..

What they have developed is a modified computer chip combined with a set of
rockers they have designed which I think open the valves wider. Don't quote
me on that however as I am not sure if I remember correctly the actual
function of the rocker mod. Those of you that understand the characteristics
of rockers more intricately than I might be able to suggest what these do to
increase airflow through the valves to enable cooler running and increase
power. (the power increase is quite nioticeable according to their dyno
testing). Apparently you need the chip to use the rockers .

As I said, I will try and find this article over the weekend and reproduce
it more accurately. Failing that my holidays start this weekend so I'll just
give them a ring on monday and have a chat. They love talking the VW anyway.

This may suggest as well why the european carby models don't have the same
problem (earlier post) . Maybe they run cooler in this region

The last price I got on this set was $AUS1500 which is about $US980

Dom :)



----- Original Message -----
On Wed, 8 Sep 1999, [iso-8859-1] Björn Ratjen wrote:

>
> 1. What should be done as corrosion prevention?
> (grounding straps?, insertion of kathode? special gasket sealer?)
>
>
> Björn
>
>
> Björn Ratjen
> Mill Bay, B.C.
>
> 1987 Vanagon est alia (self camperized)
> 1978 VW Bulli (self camperized)
> 1995 Passat TD Wagon (hers)
> 1970 VW Beetle (son's)
>