Here's one for you all to beware of.  I had a  2.1 engine head gasket fail
and so far I have no idea why.  Left head at  the bottom right corner the gasket
split quite evenly at 90 degrees to its edge  then tore in a diagonal on the
part that sits on the case lip.  See picture  here >
_http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/graphics/vanagon/misc/100_1876a.jpg_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/graphics/vanagon/misc/100_1876a.jpg)

    Stats: Brand new head gasket, rubber one, installed  on rebuilt engine.
Engine sat for approximately one year before being put  in service.  Failure
occurred at approximately 125 miles on the  engine.  New AMC heads, case lip is
near perfect as it can  reasonably be.  Permatex Ultra Copper RTV High Temp
Silicone used as  sealant as I have used without incident for over five years
on numerous  engines.  Head bolts are in good condition.  Torque was set to 37
lbs  unless I messed that up and no way to tell now.  Coolant is Prestone Long
 Life.  Temperature gauge reading normal since engine was installed.   Oil
temperatures are high, 90 ~ 100 F, but maybe normal for a newly  rebuilt engine.
 Any ideas as to what may have happened ?  Maybe  just a defective rubber
head gasket and I had to get it !  Anyways, I  R&R the head yesterday and
installed a new gasket and all's fine so  far.  Major PITA !  But may be "normal" for
the infamous 2.1  waterboxer !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com