Hi again, funny, this morning i have a customer that came to the shop with a similar problem. I'm saying it's your problem, but it was, again, the fuel pressure regulator. Lately, i don't know why at all, they gave me all kind of strange problem.

Cheers, Ben
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim Felder 
  To: Benny boy ; vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com 
  Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 10:58 AM
  Subject: Re: Heads back on, runs OK and dies

  On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 7:32 AM, Benny boy <huotb@videotron.ca> wrote:

    How was that engine running before you did the head?

  It was running pretty good for a motor with a cracked head. No leaks, no oil burning, smooth running. The car has 220K miles on it without any major problems until my wife cooked the heads. 

    Do a compression / leak down test, you will know right away if something is
    wrong with the valves. But i doubt that, you didn't talk about noise or
    heavy engine shake.

  It runs smoothly, if weakly, on startup. I'm getting fire at all cylinders. Today or tomorrow I will test the voltage to the injectors. 

    Also, check the plug to see if one or 2 is wet (coolant or fuel). Plug tell
    everything. 

  I looked yesterday when I rechecked the valve timing, no problems. 

    If not, you broke or didn't plug something right in the head job process.

  I've done it before to replace leaking gaskets. Everything mechanical seems OL.  

    In my experience, if a pushrod is not well align, it will pretty quickly
    create an horrible noise.... i said horrible.

  Right. I double-checked those anyway. 

    Now, if none of the above, find if you have a fuel pressure probleme or a
    ignition (fire) one.

  I'm thinking fuel at this point, as it starts fine, than just gets weaker and weaker over ten or fifteen seconds and then dies like it's starving for fuel. I also intend to blow-back into the tank in case it's settled debris from the gas tank. The pump and filter are relatively new.

    Last, and sorry to say, Vanagon head job is an art in some ways. I have fix
    badly done job more than once. I can change Subi / Honda / Toyota head
    gasket with my eyes close.... Any Vanagon heads job still need my full
    concentration.

  Right, it's more difficult than any other head I can think of. Sealing issues everywhere.

  Thanks,

  Jim 

    Best luck to you
    Ben