I went the new engine route--remanufactured from VW, four years ago.  After
75,000 miles and reading lots of stories on this list I can say I'm glad I
did.  It was expensive--around $3600 including the install, but over the
long haul I can't help but think it was the cheaper and less troublesome way
to go.

Good luck.

Donald Baxter in Iowa City

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Sachs" <donsachs@TELUS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 5:31 PM
Subject: 1990 waterboxer heads - a popular topic....

> Hi All,
>
> After 240,000 km (150,000 miles for the metricly challenged :-) ), I have
> seen the first coolant drip from one of the heads on my 1990 Westalia.  No
> other problems, runs great, only drips slightly when cold.  I know the
worst
> is coming.  Thought I would get a few opinions as to a reasonable course
of
> action.  My oil consumption is very slight, I change it about every
5,000 -
> 6,000 km and use about 1/2 - 3/4 litre between changes.  I have heard new
> engines aren't much better.  So I thought we'd park the van as usual
around
> Dec. 1 when the snow gets deep on our long driveway and do the job in the
> spring just after breakup (of my driveway).  The cost of new heads here in
> Canada is about $590 each for the AMC ones - plus you gotta buy the gasket
> kits.  That is just about the same as the US cost if you do the currency
> conversion.  While I have done mucho auto work in the past I now have two
> small children and I could never find the time to do a major project
anymore
> so I will pay my local - and very trusty - independent VW mechanic for
> labour.  My options are to:
>
> 1.   Replace just one head - the cheapest, but hey, if you are draining
the
> cooling system and the heads are the same age, how long 'til the other one
> goes...(cost is about $1,100 - $1,200).
> 2.  Replace both heads and pray that the cylinders and bottom end hold up
> for at least another 60,000 km or so (2-3 years for us).... they appear to
> be fine now given the good power, oil pressure, and fairly low oil
> consumption. (cost is about $1900 or so if no other problems discovered..)
>
> 3.  Bite the bullet and do the whole engine, bottom end and everything and
> be relatively trouble free for 5 years or so.  I can get a really good
> complete rebuilt one for $3,000 plus about $500 labour to re and re.  Or
my
> mechanic says he can completely rebuild mine for about $3,500 also.  We
are
> talking new everything here.  He says it is my call and that putting new
> heads on my current engine might well get me another 60 - 80,000 km before
> the major engine problems set in.  Or, he says about 1 in 10 he has tried
to
> put heads on have the cylinders stuck and screwed up.
>
> Soooooo, given all the waterboxer owners out there - and all you mechanics
> on the list....  I would like to hear the various opinions.  I don't know
> how lucky I feel, but I am inclined to save cash now and just do both
heads
> unless I miraculously run into more income over the winter and hope to get
> another couple or three years
> out of the bottom end.  The body and paint are immaculate so I am keeping
> the van long-term.  How long have your engines gone before a major rebuild
> was required?  All opinions will be considered!
>
> thanks,
> don