My daily driver broke a top stud (2nd from front, left side, looking down at engine at rear of van) and that created bad water leak at stud.

Local VW shop says "stud breakage rare w/ 85 water Vanagon engines" and he thinks "OK to replace only one stud" and continue down the road.....

I'm thinking.....$75 for 1/2 gasket set already, why not complete BOTH sides, replace ALL STUDS (there is visible rust on 50% - engine has MANY MILES), both head gaskets, etc.  But that got me into this logic:  remove cylinder jugs, re-ring the pistons, reseal the jugs, etc.

Why stop there.....pouring gas into the intake/exhaust shows my valued are holding seal (is that OK check?) so perhaps I'll just "lap the values" myself, replace the head gaskets, etc. after doing the re-ring job and I'll be good to go!

Pls. fine tune my logic here - where do I stop.  The gasket set is about same cost for both sides as one, the rings ?>>>, the lapping process I can handle, so why not?

Pls. advise - what would you do in my case?   Lots of miles on a junkyard motor I put in 8 years ago so I've been lucky - due time for some renewal of parts, correct?

PS.  How is the re-ringing process handled?  Who best to purchase these rings?  Micing (measurement) process?  Etc.

Thanks for advance info. on this work....

Have a good day!

Larry Word
Ga.