Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:28:45 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Engine repair or replacement?
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reply-type=response
a few of my thoughts -
a 87,000 miles on the current head gaskets, it's due anyway.
that's about how long they last. If money was no object, the right thing to
do would be a valve job and re-do the head gaskets every 80K miles.
not to criticize, but if a 20 year old vanagon is your only car, and your on
a very limited budget..........that's kinda asking for trouble almost.
If it's external leakage ...........it's possible to do just the leaking
side. It's possible to do it with the engine in the van.
I do use Bars Leak.
Sometimes. And it has an affect. Quite a good product for some
applications.
At best it's just a band-aid approach of course.
and the outer rubber 'joke' gaskets on a waterboxer - they get so mushy or
pinched, or corroded, not much could help them short of replacement.
'missing .5 inches' .........what does that mean ? makes no sense to me by
itself.
since you mentioned aluminum repair, perhaps your heads are very corroded.
if it was me, I'd identify the worst side..........and remove that head with
the engine in the van..........and see what I found out.
And then put a head on with a fresh valve job on it, and new headgaskets on
the engine.
of course, if one side is all tired and corroded , the other side is likely
to be, or getting there.
but really...........
I see waterboxer vanagons and their engines all day long ..........including
about 8 I got specifically to fix up and sell..........
and what I'm seeing is .........unless the engine is pretty fresh, say 50K
on a rebuilt or something like that..........they ALL need head gasket work
at the very minimum. And it would not be a waste of money at all to just
re-do the heads every 80,000 miles.
I find the exhaust valves leaking a little.........and there are no 'real'
head gaskets at all.
Just an outer water-retention gasket........( and that gap there is an issue
too - has to be about right, not too big or too small ) , then tiny green
o-rings that get hard and don't seal., and the metal rings on top of the
cylinder barrels - at least those last.
but the aluminum corrodes from not having and changing now and then a really
good coolant mixture ..........I have special tricks beyond 50/50 mixture,
or phosphate free a-frz............
and the rubber just rots or gets too hard to work.
they need head jobs about every 80,000 miles. No way around it.........
though there are a few people with 200L+ miles on the same head gaskets, but
that's rare.
yours just needs to be patched up, or fixed properly. Letting it just sit
is not a good option either. Hate to see that happen to wonderful vanagons.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 3:51 PM
Subject: Engine repair or replacement?
> Hi Everyone,
>
> More on my story...
>
> My 88 automatic wolfsburg with 237,000 miles on it with a rebuilt
> engine at 150,000 miles just had the head gaskets start leaking. Small
> amounts of coolant are coming out.
>
> I was told it's missing .5 inches on each side of the head. I have not
> verified it yet.
>
> Please note I just lost my job as dissolved the position and have a
> couple months of severance an unemployment insurance coming in, so
> cost is a big factor. I cant afford a lot but I want to do the right
> thing. The van has been running fine for the most part and I only add
> about a quarter of the coolant tank every 200 miles. So the leak is
> not terrible
>
> I have been doing some research and here are what appear to be the
> options:
>
> 1. Use something like Bars STOP Leak - Head Gasket Fix WORKS WITH ALL
> TYPES OF ANTIFREEZE! (
> DOES THIS EVEN WORK?
> http://www.barsproducts.com/1111.htm
>
>
> 2. Use something like Permatex on the edge (though I am told this wont
> work it might be temporary fix)
>
> 3. Remove the engine and have the gaskets replaced $1200-$1500
>
> 4. http://www.alumiweld.com ? temporary fix.
>
> 5. Get a new engine
>
>
> $975 & $190 shipping - Ken Morgan (Jake4parts on ebay)
>
> I talked to this guy Ken Morgan who sells engines under the name
> jake4parts on ebay. He has 2.1 L engine for sale for $975. I know some
> people say that he shady, I am not sure. Spoke to him and he sounds
> like a nice guy who is knowledgeble.
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-1991-VW-Vanagon-Rebuilt-2-1L-Engine-Long-Block_W0QQitemZ320284970269QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320284970269&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting
>
> "1986 - 1991 VW Vanagon 2.1L Engine Rebuilt (Long Block) Has all new
> bearings, rings and valve job - This engine is completely resealed
> with all new head gaskets and crank seals... Built in our shop, these
> engines also comes with all installation gaskets to complete the
> installations into your vanagon... Comes with flywheel or flex plate
> - Specify whether you have an automatic or stickshift...
>
> This engine also fits 83-85 Vanagon waterboxers with a small
> modification to the center intake manifold plenum (ask for product
> circular)... Comes with a 12mo/12,000mile warranty, technical
> bulitens for start-up and break-in as well as selection of motor oils
> for long life and reliability...
>
> Shipping Flat Rate $190.00 to any major city trucking terminal in the
> Continental USA - For Home delivery or Liftgate truck service add
> $96.00"
>
>
>
>
>
> Need some help trying to figure out what I should I, finances are
> tight. I want to move to California and drive my van there.
>
> Much appreciated all the ideas that you send my way.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Robert
>
> NY
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