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<P>I just wanted to tell the list my appreciation for listmember David Jaffe for his hospitality and help during a 3 day trip to Portland last week. Thanks again , David!Great restaurants in Portland too!</P>
<P>He also helped me prepare a 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender I bought there to tow back home. </P>
<P>David is a true VW Vanagon enthusiast I found out and his zeal to learn technical knowledge led us to his garage where we spent the wee hours of the night poring over the 1.8 Scrirroco engine that resides in the 1982 formerely Diesel Vanagon he purchased recently.</P>
<P>He bought it with the intent of replacing the blown head gasket, which&nbsp;is not as common a problem on inline fours but it does happen.&nbsp;We found that the crankase was full of coolant and emulsified oil, not a good sign, so we flushed it out several times . </P>
<P>The engine is a 1986 Scirroco with a solid lifter head. At this point the plan is to try a head gasket and new stretch bolts too see if the motor can be saved. It cranked over fine and the coolant came out a bright green, not rust- colored. </P>
<P>It is a JH code 90 hp engine, still with the original Diesel tranny. </P>
<P>Here's a question I have -should the head be replaced with a hydraulic head ? </P>
<P>I have heard that sloid lifter heads can deliver more hp but the need valve adjustments, an added maintenance feature we would like to eliminate. </P>
<P>Any ideas are welcome.</P>
<P>Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>Robert K</P>
<P>1982 Westfalia</P>
<P>Seattle</P>
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