Who said anything about re-using head gaskets?

<looks around for culprit>

If the 1984 Vanagon engine is as easy to pull as my 71 bus's (remove the
bumper and rear apron, a few hoses and wires, four bolts to the
transaxle, tug the engine rearwards and roll it into the shop) . . . I
say, if it was as easy as that, then pulling the heads to inspect for
incipient coolant leaks might be a good idea? Or a silly idea?

The Vanagon wasserboxer is a new concept to me, not as familiar as my
aircooled engine.

--

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 VW Type 2 / 84 Westy: A poor but proud race.
KG6RCR

Craig Oda wrote:

>BTW, why do you want to check the gaskets?  If you pull the heads, you
>can't reuse the gaskets.  These are crush type things of thick rubber.
> If you take off the head, especially on an old one, I don't think you
>can ever reuse the head gasket.
>
>Has anyone successfully reused a head gasket?
>
>If you're pulling the heads because you have a coolant leak into the
>head and want to check the gasket and head for leaks, then I can
>understand.  But, if you are pulling the head off to look at the
>gasket to see if it is damaged, I think you'd be better off to plan on
>replacing that gasket.
>
>I'm kind of wondering if anyone is actually reusing newish head gaskets.
>
>On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 15:04:56 -0700, Rocket J Squirrel
><j.michael.elliott@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
>
>>I have a 1971 bus. I have pulled the engine a few times to take care of
>>this and that.
>>
>>I have also recently acquired a 1984 automatic Westy with no A/C. At
>>first glance, pulling its engine seems a bit harder. If, for example,
>>one wanted to pull the heads and check the gaskets. Some kind of
>>mechanical adventure like that.
>>
>>So, on a scale 1 to 10, assuming that taking off the gas cap is a "1",
>>and pulling the 1971 bus's engine is a "5" -- how would you rate this
>>year/model Vanagon engine pull?
>>
>>--
>>Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>71 VW Type 2 / 84 Westy: A poor but proud race.
>>KG6RCR
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>