Hey Mike..... find a friend with a digital camera...take good pictures of
the leak....and engine condition, send them to me... i will give you a full
diagnostic... and tell you how many hours the mechanic should charge you...

another solution...you're in California...i love California, i miss those
sunsets...got space to work on the van....got tools...pay me an airplane
ticket... and i fix you're heads... he he he he...

ps.: 99% of the vanagon heads problem/leak is an external leak, the big head
gasket. Most heads can be re-use... so stop thinking of a new engine...you
may just need a re-seal...

http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine1.htm
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine3.htm
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine4.htm
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine5.htm
http://www.benplace.com/vanagon_engine6.htm

Cheers, Ben
http://www.benplace.com/