My plans are for my wife to drive it around town. Run some errands, go to
the bank, etc..... It's her dream car, she's always wanted a westy so I took
the plunge on this project, (got it for a good price). We will also do the
monthly 4 hour trip to the coast to get some surf in. The more I read, the
more I think I will go w/ good used German heads, or reman'ed German heads.
I found a machine shop in CA (these
guys<http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270162056694&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017>)
that sells reman'ed German heads, or so they told me over the phone. If you
have any opinions, I'd love to hear them! Thanks.

Chris

On 10/10/07, Bob Donalds <donalds1@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> I also see lots remains of the day in AMC heads
> some had bad exhaust pipes at the head some as I said in my last post had
> bad lifters and some have the valve stem worn right out but again what
> valve
> how many miles and was the engine set up correctly
> The AMC core collection on my floor has just as many pounded out exhaust
> seats as they do wiped out stems
> I did see the picture of the cracked AMC head that bad boy got hot enough
> to
> do some damage
> the question becomes what are you going to do with the van? If driving out
> of town is the responce them spend some money and bring it up to a point
> of
> reliability.
> So you dont spend you vacation at a location of the vans choosing not
> yours
>
> Bob
> Boston Engine
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "dylan friedman" <insyncro@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 10:29 AM
> Subject: Re: cracked AMC heads question
>
>
> > Ken,
> > I have 5 sets of AMC heads at my shop right now with at least one valve
> > that is shot.  The highest mileage of any of them is 15k.
> >
> > The heads GoWesty sells and BB's Big Valve heads are far from stock.
> >
> > I trust those two vendors and Benny Boy has a section devoted to AMCs as
> > well.
> > Give it a read, well worth the time spent checking it out.
> >
> > Stock is stock.
> >
> > dylan
> >
> > Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote: I have sold many, many AMC
> > heads with the valves that come with them
> > over the years.  I have also installed many of them for customers.
> > Maybe there was a problem several years ago with the valves, but I have
> > never had a problem with the stock valves that come with the heads.  If
> > the other suppliers were telling the full story they would tell you that
> > they are taking out valves that they say have quality issues only to put
> > back in valves that are not OE anyway (so who really knows how much
> > better quality of a valve that they are?).  The OE valves are so
> > expensive that you couldn't use them and still sell the heads for what
> > these folks are selling them for.  So to me it is one of those "You
> > should buy it from me because everyone else is selling crap" stories
> > that is mostly smoke and mirrors.  Now if they were putting in OE valves
> > I would have no problem with them decrying the quality of the valves
> > that come in the AMC heads and charging a premium for changing the
> > valves.  If they aren't doing that I feel that this is just a marketing
> > ploy to add value to a product just because it came from a certain store
> > when in fact everyone else is selling a similar product for a cheaper
> > price.  The place out West sells many unique and cool products that only
> > they have and that is good.  However just because you paid extra for a
> > head at this Western store (or any other vendor) doesn't necessarily
> > mean that it is better.  Even when you have pictures and a nice
> > technical story to go with it.
> >
> > Just my opinion,
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
> >
> > dylan friedman wrote:
> >
> >>Bottomline, if you are going to spend the money on brand new AMC
> >>heads....make sure you replace the stock valves.  Read up at GoWesty and
> >>Boston Bob on this subject.
> >>
> >>With that amount spent on heads, it doesn't make sense to not freshen up
> >>the bottomend bearing, replace water pump, oil pump........you get the
> >>picture.
> >>
> >>At this point you will have spent about 3/4 of the cost of a 2.5 Subaru
> >>conversion or Zetec if you do it yourself.
> >>
> >>The wbx is get if it is running strong, but I would transplant if you
> want
> >>true reliabliity.
> >>
> >>dylan's 2cents
> >>
> >>Chris Lisica  wrote: This van will eventually be my wife's daily driver,
> >>hopefully. That's my
> >>goal. So I really want to get the engine in tip top shape and have
> minimal
> >>rescues. It has an auto trans axle that is fairly new so once the engine
> >>is
> >>dialed in, it should be very reliable. The previous owner spent a
> fortune
> >>throwing parts at the van, so lots of things are new.
> >>
> >>On to the heads. So, in your opinion/experiences, engine performance is
> >>restored to new by buying new heads/cylinders/pistons? I'm a little
> >>hesitant
> >>to do the whole shebang because the previous owner said that it ran very
> >>well prior to the overheating issues. His exact words were, "Very
> strong".
> >>So based on that, I'm hoping I can get away w/ good used heads and see
> >>what
> >>happens. But at the same time, I don't want to do this 10K miles down
> the
> >>road. Thoughts?
> >>
> >>Thanks for the input..
> >>
> >>Chris
> >>
> >>On 9/9/07, David Kao
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>It's really a question how well you want to rebuild your engine.
> >>>A crack between the valves may be fine for a while but eventually
> >>>the head will fall apart. You will have to take it apart again
> >>>to deal with it eventually.
> >>>
> >>>If you want the engine back to what it was but with no crack on
> >>>the head to worry about then buy a used one that has no crack and no
> >>>damaged valves and valve seats. Just do a valve job and put the engine
> >>>back together. This may last a long time and the engine performance
> >>>will reflect its mileage.
> >>>
> >>>But if you really want your engine rebuilt back to top performance
> >>>the best strategy is to spend for a pair of new heads. Replace the
> >>>piston/cylinder liners as well. If everything is done properly the
> >>>engine will perform well over another 100k without giving you
> performance
> >>>issues.
> >>>
> >>>I just had my 1.9 engine rebuilt. I put in a new set of liners only
> >>>because
> >>>the heads were replaced 20k miles ago by a VW dealer under warranty. I
> >>>first
> >>>thought the heads were rebuilt. But I found out that the heads were
> >>>actually
> >>>new VW heads. After 3k miles of break-in I am extremely happy with the
> >>>result
> >>>of the rebuild. The engine is totally cool now. I am glad that I had
> the
> >>>new liners in it.
> >>>
> >>>An 87 Westy is worth a full restore if I were you. Good luck.
> >>>
> >>>David
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>--- Chris Lisica  wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Yeah, sorry, I'm talking about the cracks between the valves. I've
> heard
> >>>>that a hairline fracture is acceptable, but that one in my picture is
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>pretty
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>big. A leak test would be good.
> >>>>
> >>>>Hmmm, thanks for the advice. Some of those measurement numbers are
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>scary! I
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>have a line on a used set of German heads for $200, I may just go that
> >>>>route.
> >>>>
> >>>>Chris
> >>>>
> >>>>On 9/9/07, Scott Daniel - Shazam  wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>You're talking about the cracks between the two valves ?
> >>>>>Totally normal.
> >>>>>You 'could' get them pressure tested if you're worried,
> >>>>>You can also peen the cracks shut with a hammer and punch.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Fwiw - ..judging by the corrosion where the water gasket touches this
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>head
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>-
> >>>>>perhaps you might get away with head gaskets only.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>I would also test for valve sealing by filling the ports with
> gasoline
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>or
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>kerosene, and see if they leak. I usually find at least one exhaust
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>valve
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>leaking.
> >>>>>Then I have a machine shop do a valve job.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>And what I wanted to say about AMC heads - fwiw,  I have one.....that
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>I
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>installed new, and it didn't last, for head gasket sealing .....that
> >>>>>particular head is so far out of 'dimension' it's sick.     Pure
> >>>>>junk.  And
> >>>>>it was factory new.  So I'd be careful about AMC heads, if nothing
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>else.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>I'm finding it necessary to check how much the water gasket gets
> >>>>>compressed.
> >>>>>By my measurements the water gasket is 3.7 mm thick.
> >>>>>Put the head on temporarily ( with metal sealing rings at the top of
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>the
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>barrels ) and measure the water gasket  gap.
> >>>>>Iv'e seen  it be 3.7 mm - thus no compression on the water gasket -
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>and it
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>leaked after a thousand miles.
> >>>>>Iv'e seen it vary , like 4 mm on one end, 7 mm on the other, and so
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>forth.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>And I'd be real careful with AMC heads.
> >>>>>I'd rather have a good set of used non-amc heads and rebuild them,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>then
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>install them, than use AMC heads, unless the measure out nicely.
> >>>>>Scott
> >>>>>www.turbovans.com
> >>>>>
> >>>>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>>>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>Behalf Of
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>Chris Lisica
> >>>>>Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 7:35 PM
> >>>>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>>>>Subject: cracked AMC heads question
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Volks,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>After purchasing my wife's 87 Westy project, I'm finally getting
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>started.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>I
> >>>>>knew the heads were messed up, but I was hoping for a simple head
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>gasket
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>job. Upon closer inspection, and a few pictures in macro focus mode,
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>there
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>appears to be a big crack on the one side. Any opinions? Is this head
> >>>>>reusable? What could cause such a large crack? The pics:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>http://wavanagon.googlepages.com/amcheads
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Please help enlighten an aspiring Vanagon mechanic. Thanks for any
> >>>>>advice/input/feedback/links/etc.....
> >>>>>
> >>>>>--
> >>>>>Chris
> >>>>>88 Vanagon GL (daily driver)
> >>>>>87 Westfalia (in progress)
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>--
> >>>>Chris
> >>>>88 Vanagon GL (daily driver)
> >>>>87 Westfalia (in progress)
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
>
> >>>____________________________________________________________________________________
> >>>Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who
> >>>knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
> >>>http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545469
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>Chris
> >>88 Vanagon GL (daily driver)
> >>87 Westfalia (in progress)
> >>
> >>
> >>
>

--
Chris
88 Vanagon GL (daily driver)
87 Westfalia (in progress)