George, thanks for the suggestion of that epoxy question. It is indeed very
strange to have any problem with the freeze plug. I can not see any trace of
leaking coolant there. If coolant ever leaked there would be light color powder
trace near by. But there is none.

I think the noise is not caused by fallen bolts of a CV joint. But I can check
tomorrow. When I heard the loud snap I thought that a CV joint is broken apart.
But I yanked both drive shafts and they did not move a bit. AAA tow truck then
came and towed it from the rear for me. I have not checked the CV joints again.

David

--- Gregory Smith <gfs@SCATTERCREEK.COM> wrote:

> 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.
>

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