Melissa, sorry to hear the motor is toast.  If you have the skills of a
mechanic, and are qualified to do the job, you can do it.  But then you wouldnt
be asking this question.  Let's face it, chances are high you are not
qualified. Result:  waste of your time, money, and expensive new parts.
Disaster.  You will tear up more than you will fix.  Bad bad idea.

Even experienced non-VW mechs have problems with these motors, so the
chances of
you doing the job properly is slim to none.  Hate to be the bearer of bad news,
but some people on the list have the attitude if THEY can do it, you can too.
That is optimistic, but not always true.  If the van is good to excellent
otherwise, and if you like the van, (they ain't makin' any more of 'em baby)
spend the money and take it to an experienced VW mechanic who does not "run
away" from you when you describe the problem.  Best:  find a shop dedicated to
VW.  Not necessarily by any means the dealer.

Otherwise, you could be looking at best to pay somebody to fix the mistakes you
WILL make, or paying for a crappy job at a second rate place, and then having
another crappy repair to "make it right" and it goes on, and on.  You keep
bringing the van back because something "is not the way it used to be."  Do not
go to some outfit who works on all types of vehicles.  They are just in it for
the money.  Get it to a purist.  Truck it, rollback it, or whatever, but do it.

It can be done!

Now let's see some results!

good luck,
HK

No, I am not a mechanic  : )
But I can second-guess with champions, and
I have torn up more stuff than you will imagine

At 06:09 PM 2/12/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I am totally bummed out -
>I currently own a '90 Vanagon and recently found out that the head gasket is
>cracked.  I really need some advice - Can I do this job myself or do I have
>to spend the money on labor?  I love my van - any ideas, or mechanics in
>Detroit area that would consider a payment plan???
>I am desperate - my husband wants to sell and cut our losses...

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