Guys,
Ain't know way I would put the same old tired heads on an engine with 160k
on it.  You need to rebuild it............

But if you can't swing that, you ought to  at least change the rods out,
pistons and cylinders, and a new set of heads.................you will be
doing this job again in the next couple years, or you can buy more time now.

That little crack is on all the heads that have a little mileage on
them.............or in your case a lot.

Adam P
Charleston,SC     Coburn, WV
81  Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Zeno" <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: Small cracks in head (between valves) 2.1 l wbxer

> Benley states you can use cracked heads, as long as the crack is
> less than , I THINK   1 mm....  Do you dare?
>                                       ERic
>
> dgak sdfhkasjfh wrote:
>
> >I understand these tiny single hairline cracks at the
> >shortest distance between intake and exhaust valve are
> >common.  Does this mean you go to the machinist and
> >pay $200??  I guess I should get the head leak tested,
> >at least.  This is an '86 westy and I am doing the
> >heads engine in as the corrosion pits finally got to
> >the gasket.  I was planning on doing the J-B Weld fix
> >till I saw the cracks.  Compression was 145 on #'s 2-4
> >and 130 on #1.  Not bad for 160,000!  I will attest
> >that the best way to free the cylinders from the head
> >is the open-end wrench prying on the cylinder ears.
> >Works like a charm.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>