Larry,

I replaced the ones on my 84 last fall. The rubber seals were actually
cut/torn or whatever in several spotts. That's what was causing what you
could see. What was worse was what was out of sight! The metal sealing rings
at the top of the sleeves were letting coolant into the head when cold and
air into the coolant when hot. I also used alum-a-seal and it stopped the
visual leaks but I had both and it would not stop inner seal leaks.  Just
keep a sharp eye out for signs of the inner seals leaking, air in coolant,
pinging/pounding noise when started cold and unexplained coolant loss.

Happy motoring
Joe R.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Word" <wordlarry2002@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 09, 2002 4:39 AM
Subject: Vanagon - old heads - leaks -alum. seal products $3

> I am trying to bring an old vanagon back to life.....
>
> I bought vanagon approx. 3 yrs. ago (w/ blown engine),
> put junkyard engine in which immed. leaked.  Torn
> heads off, showed them to local "expert VW mechanic"
> who said 'they're OK just replace gasket' and so I
> listened to him.  Bought a Subaru car as a replacement
> engine for the future...that project is on hold
> because I like my 1.9l VW Engine so.....
>
> But the new gasket leaked.  I have put alum. seal $3
> into this engine and my leaks are gone....and its
> approx. 10K miles later.  What does the group think
> about a $3 fix to the pitted heads of an old vanagon
> engine.
>
> It works for me now.....so tell me why this does
> always work?  Also I am using the alum. seal that is
> pure alum. so I hoped it would simply fill in the pits
> on my alum. head..so far so good.
>
> Just want feedback of group on this if I can...
>
> Larry
>
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