If the mechanic was not versed at drilling out studs in place, you
should have been informed. This is really a machinist, not normal
mechanic skill. It sometimes happens that a proper repair requires head
removal. If you weren't willing to take that step, then a butcher repair
may be appropriate to by some time. In general, only the VW's have this
difficulty with exhaust removal. The combination of poor hardware
quality with very high temperatures most likely due to the lack of a
real cast iron manifold makes for difficult parts removal.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Ed
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 3:26 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Follow-up on bad exhaust experience

I got a few different opinions on my recent bad exhaust experience, but
I'd still like opinions on this specifically:

I know that removing it can be difficult. But is it a sign of a bad
mechanic if he "slips" with the drill bit and knocks off a piece of the
exhaust head of the engine, puts black silicone around it, and re-drills
the head at an angle in a different spot, and holds it on with a bunch
of washers? Should I be paying for the fact that he couldn't drill it
out well?

Ed