An oxy/acetylene torch is your ally here Mike. It isn't called the 'Hot
Wrench' for no reason. Have a water bottle/garden mister handy for when the
oil burns off. If you make the stud nice and cherry it will release. You may
want to have the motor out of the van for this, depending on your comfort
level with smoke and flames!  And obviously, keep the flame away from the
fuel lines.

On 4/10/06, Michael A. Radtke <michael.radtke@bull.com> wrote:
>
> Tim,
>
> Thanks for the note.
>
> Probably the key questions are: Who did you give the engine to, is he on
> the list, and did he get the head off?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: Stuck Head
> Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 11:18:07 -0700
> From: Aristotle Sagan <killer.jupiter@GMAIL.COM>
> Reply-To: Aristotle Sagan <killer.jupiter@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> References: <4439C66D.FF7D5C96@bull.com>
>
> When I had this problem, I finally gave the engine away. Never did get
> the
> head to budge. I tried the wrench trick, I beat the hell out of my hand
> with
> a dead blow hammer, pried on it with a large screwdriver, no go.
>
> Give it away... works for me.
>
> C in san jose
>
> BTW - You are not the person I gave this engine to, are you?
>
>
> On 4/9/06, Michael A. Radtke <michael.radtke@bull.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I did some archive searching and came up with lots of hits on cylinders
> > sticking to the head, but that is not my problem (yet).
> >
> > I backed off the head nuts.  However, the head wouldn't budge.  So, I
> > cut away all of the outer water gasket and can slip a knife between the
> > head and the water jacket all the way around, but the head is still
> > stuck fast.  I then noticed that all of the studs can be moved about a
> > bit in the head, except for one, which seems to be one with the head.  I
> > suspect that it is corroded in place and is the cause of the stuck head.
> >
> > I can't be the first one to have this problem.  Any advice what to do
> > next?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mike  -- Phoenix AZ
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in which
> case, you ain't got there yet.
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com