A problem I see with this is that the corrosion may have already damaged
the rubber gasket. After you pull a few of these heads off you will get
used to seeing rubber gaskets that in spots look like they have been
chewed on by animals. The bubbled corrosion from the head surface tears
the rubber up pretty good. On some the corrosion grows enough to
completely dislodge the gasket so that in spots no rubber remains
between the waterjacket and the head because ss corrosion starts
creeping between the rubber and the head the growing pressure cuts the
gasket. In severe examples the corrosion then contacts and starts
damaging the waterjacket edge too.

Mark

EMZ wrote:
>
>     Vanagonits,
>    I think I'm on to something.  This spring I'm going to try this....
> I'm going to take a thin stiff putty knife, and jam it down between
> the head gasket and the block, to scrap out the corrosion where the
> Vanagon engine head gaskets leak.  I'm hoping that this will be good
> enough to stop the leak but not do much damage to the gasket.  I've
> done this with a small screw driver, so far, on an engine, sitting
> on my work bench.  Looks to be a good temperary fix?  Anyone would like
> to try this with there leaker?
>