Ah ha, harassing the list before you even know the facts !!
Happens all the time, lol.

I buy german aftermarket exh. Port gaskets 20 at a time, like in bulk.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with them.   I would almost never re-use
one however.  But flange flatness and being parallel to the head surface is
important. 
Scott 
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Kao
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 6:50 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: exhaust gasket question 2.1

My 84 engine was resealed (head gaskets all that came within the gasket
set) 30k miles ago. I can reuse the exhaust gaskets but with the new ones
I will get the nice exhaust sound like a new Vanagon. If copper gasket is
a bad idea I think the other answer is to get OEM. I hate to go to any
dealer. I think the ones come within the gasket set are not very good,
although they do work fine. Copper is fairly soft so making a set of exhaust
gaskets using copper is not that hard. Just need to hear from people if it
is actually not a good idea. Maybe I don't need to replace them at all.
I will soon find out when the engine is dropped.

David

--- Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:

> Maybe you need to square and flatten your exhaust flanges.  The stock
> gaskets last a long time for me - 8 years or more.
>
> On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 5:46 PM, David Kao <dtkao0205@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Is it a good/bad idea to make your own exhaust gasket using sheet copper
> > available from hardware store? Has anyone tried this? I will soon begin
> > to dismantle my 84's engine and replace the tranny at the same time.
> > The engine will receive a set of new Cofap and a pair of used heads.
> > I can anticipate need of a set of new exhaust gaskets. The gaskets seem
> > to crap out quickly and not cheap. I am seeking an alternative.
> >
> > David
> >
> >
> > --- Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
> >
> > >  Metal won't get stuck to what it's clamped against, but composite
may.
> > > Which part is easier to remove and scrape a baked-on gasket off of?
I'd
> > put
> > > metal towards the head, for that reason alone............
> > >
> > > Mike B.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
> > > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > > Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:18 PM
> > > Subject: Re: exhaust gasket question 2.1
> > >
> > >
> > > > Thanks, all, as usual. Metal to the head it will be.
> > > > Jim
> > > >
> > > > On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 7:01 PM, Jake de Villiers <
> > > > crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> I've always put the metal side to the source of the heat whatever
the
> > > >> make
> > > >> of engine but I remember a post not too long ago that espoused the
> > > >> opposite.
> > > >>
> > > >> In 35 years of hot rodding etc I've never had a problem when
putting
> > the
> > > >> metal side to the exhaust port.   :)
> > > >>
> > > >> On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 4:44 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> > My first question is why does a Vanagon full gasket set come with
> > only
> > > >> > two
> > > >> > head-to-pipe gaskets when it requires four?
> > > >> > My real question is which side goes toward the head, the
composite
> > side
> > > >> > or
> > > >> > the metal side?
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Obviously I'm talking about the kind that's thin steel bonded or
> > > >> > crimped
> > > >> > to
> > > >> > a composite material.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Thanks,
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Jim
> > > >> >
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> Jake
> > > >> 1984 Vanagon GL
> > > >> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > > >> Crescent Beach, BC
> > > >> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> > > >> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
> > >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> > http://mail.yahoo.com
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> Crescent Beach, BC
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>

 
____________________________________________________________________________
________
Looking for last minute shopping deals?
Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG. 
Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.21.8/1340 - Release Date: 3/23/2008
6:50 PM