Creg, my friend...
What is the exact compression????????? do a test with oil inside the
cylinder!!! you know (of course) that will tell you if the leak come
from the piston / cylinder /  rings or the valves.... of course, you
said blue oil!!! and westy don't have valves seals so rings / piston
must be the problem.....but i wonder, you said 125/135 compression!!!!
A cracked head that would leak oil inside!!!!!!!!!! Naaaaaaaaaa,
impossible on westy's.....

BUT, a """oil ring failure"""" could be a possibility!!!! i have seen
that in the past on Honda's.... the 2 compression ring are ok but the
oil ring is stuck.... so only new rings could help!!!!! about 60$...

Check with an infrared temp gun........each exhaust....and close to the
head???????????? the one with oil should have a higher compression and a
lower temperature..... (i had a few beers now so it could be the reverse
situation, he he he he)

It is not silly to try to save a 180000 engine.... i said try!!! the 83
is a 1.9L, they don't have the 2.1L rods falliure probleme!!!!  If the
oil pressure is good!!!!!  put some pistons and head(1)  and double
check the old / new head if it sealing fine.....to get a even compression...

that is my advice for now!!!!!

Cheers and say hi to your dad for me, i will see you guys soon...........
Ben
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine1.htm

Greg Potts wrote:

> Hi ben,
>
> My dad got a good deal on an 83, and couldn't pass it up. We towed it
> home, and put a charge in the battery, checked the compression
> (125-135's) and after being parked for four years it's running. After
> dad added a gallon of coolant and burped the front radiator he's
> getting heat at both ends. I took it around the block this afternoon
> and it drives very well... the original owner took very good care of it.
>
> It has 180000 miles on it. The 1-2 side head was replaced at 120,000
> miles but the 3-4 side hasn't been done. The radiator has only 20000
> miles on it, and the clutch and tranny have about 40000 on them.
> Suspension, steering and brakes are good.
>
> But....
>
> The engine is blowing more blue smoke than Rene Levesque. We can get a
> cylinders and piston kit for $200, but it'd be silly to replace the
> top end on a 180000 mile engine without tearing down the whole thing.
> AVP has engines for $1800US, or Frank could sell us one for $2800CDN.
>
> What to do? What to do?  My parents already have a very nice aircooled
> vanagon westy, but they would like to have something to drive in the
> winter with heat.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Greg Potts
> Toronto, Ontario, Canada
>
> 1973/74/79 Westfakia Conversion **Bob the Tomato**  LY3H
> 1977 Sunroof Automatic L63H/L90D
> http://www.pottsfamily.ca/westfakia
> http://www.busesofthecorn.com
>
>
>