David,

The epoxy looking stuff might have been there to hold a
temperature-sensitive disc in place.  Head shops use them for warranty
purposes, if the head gets so hot the disc falls off or the center melts
out, then no warranty.

Also, your tranny might be fine, but you may have blown a CV joint.  All
it takes to strand you is one joint to fail, and the differential's spider
gears will rotate and you won't move.   Might need to put it in gear and
go back and look to see if one side is rotating, that would be the bad
side.

Gregory Smith
Oympia, WA USA
84 Vanagon (for sale)
88 Vanagon

> Date:    Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:41:33 -0800
> From:    David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
> Subject: Re: AMC Cylinder Head Question
>
> I did not mention, my 84 Vanagon broke its transmission last week.
> I heard a loud snap from the rear, like breaking an axle and I lost
> power to move forward. It was in first gear trying to move into another
> street on a right turn. I can still shift back and forth to every gear
> including reverse. But As soon as I try to let go the clutch pedal I
> can hear noise from the transmission. So the transmission is toast.
> I have one used cheap spare that I can replace. But once the engine
> and the transmission is dropped I have a decision to make between a
> real quality rebuild or a cheap one by myself. I do not need to do
> anything with the engine if I want to go the cheap route. If I want
> a quality one then it's a lot of money and the engine should take
> the opportunity to be done as well.