Son of a bitch, I've got my 325 in pieces fixing a leak.  $400 in parts and
machine shop bucks.  I should learn not to be so cynical....

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:53 PM
Subject: Re: Engine repair or replacement?

> Jake,
>
> Don't knock it until you try it... that "Head Gasket in a Can" got me
> 50,000
> miles on the BMW, and it wasn't leaking a drop when we sold it.  He is out
> of a job, and if a $30 investment gives him the same results as my BMW,
> then
> it's worth a shot.  I'd be sure to drive it for a couple of weeks before
> any
> long trip just to make sure things are tight.  Also, I'd be sure that it
> is
> running as cool as possible.  I wouldn't try going across the desert in
> the
> middle of August with the stuff, unless I had a back-up plan.
>
> But... I was pouring about a quart of anti-freeze in my BMW per week,
> until
> I put the "Head Gasket in a Can" in, and didn't add a drop for two years.
> The white smoke stopped right away.  For good measure, when I flushed the
> system two years later, I did the Bars leak treatment again.  I was
> skeptical myself, and maybe the BMW was a better candidate for this repair
> than a WBX... but I was sure pleased to drive a $1000 car for 3 years, 50k
> miles, on a $30 repair.
>
> Jack R.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jake de Villiers
> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 8:33 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Engine repair or replacement?
>
> Guys, he's talking about driving his family across the Continent for God's
> sake!  Some 'Head Gasket in a Can' won't do it when that gasket starts
> chunking off halfway across Nevada and then he'll be in a position of no
> strength whatsoever.
>
> Use your imagination, huh?  :)
>
> On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 5:22 PM, Jack R. <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Robert,
>>
>> I have had some great success with the Bars Leak Head Gasket repair on a
> 91
>> BMW 325i.  The motor had 200k on it and was blowing white smoke like
>> crazy
>> out the exhaust.  I only paid $1,000 for the car, and expected to put
> about
>> the same into the repair.  I thought, what the heck, I'll give the Bars
>> Leak
>> stuff a try.  It worked like a charm, and we put 50k on the motor, before
>> we
>> sold the car for $500.
>>
>> I will caution you, when using the Bars Leak, you MUST... did I say
> MUST...
>> get ALL of the coolant out of the system before adding the Bars Leak.
>> There are specific steps, and the Bars Leak Head Gasket solution does NOT
>> do
>> well with any type of coolant in the system.  It will gum up the works!
>>
>> As I am sure you have seen, the Vanagon is not an easy vehicle to flush
> and
>> fill, and you need to do this 3 times to get the full effect of the Bars
>> Leak.  FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AT EVERY LAST DETAIL, and you will
>> probably
>> be happy with the results.  Heck, $10 for the Bars Leak, and another $20
> or
>> so for the new (phosphate free) coolant, you may just have the leak stop
>> until you find a new job.
>>
>> Jack R.
>> 84 Westy Wolfie
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of
>> Robert Stewart
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 7:10 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Engine repair or replacement?
>>
>> What do you think about the bars stop leak gasket fix?
>>
>> R
>>
>> On Aug 19, 2008, at 7:05 PM, Ben Cichowski wrote:
>>
>> > >>> I talked to this guy Ken Morgan who sells engines under the name
>> > jake4parts on ebay. He has 2.1 L engine for sale for $975. I know
>> > some people say that he shady, I am not sure. Spoke to him and he
>> > sounds like a nice guy who is knowledgeble.<<<
>> >
>> > Hey Robert,
>> >
>> > sorry to hear about he job...and the engine...total bummer, lots of
>> > us have been there.
>> >
>> > As for your statement above... they ALL sound nice and
>> > knowledgeable. I don't know this guy "jake4parts", but if more than
>> > a few people on this list have said he is a scam artist, I'd take
>> > their advice and avoid business with him. I may not know him, but I
>> > have certainly known scammers and, like I said, they are always the
>> > nicest guys on the phone; always have the answers and say the right
>> > thing. From your post, you sound like you are leaning in this
>> > direction, just don't want to see a guy make a bad situation worse.
>> > just my 2 cents.
>> >
>> > -Ben
>> >
>> > > Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:51:37 -0400
>> > > From: robertmstewart@MAC.COM
>> > > Subject: Engine repair or replacement?
>> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> > >
>> > > Hi Everyone,
>> > >
>> > > More on my story...
>> > >
>> > > My 88 automatic wolfsburg with 237,000 miles on it with a rebuilt
>> > > engine at 150,000 miles just had the head gaskets start leaking.
>> > Small
>> > > amounts of coolant are coming out.
>> > >
>> > > I was told it's missing .5 inches on each side of the head. I have
>> > not
>> > > verified it yet.
>> > >
>> > > Please note I just lost my job as dissolved the position and have a
>> > > couple months of severance an unemployment insurance coming in, so
>> > > cost is a big factor. I cant afford a lot but I want to do the right
>> > > thing. The van has been running fine for the most part and I only
>> > add
>> > > about a quarter of the coolant tank every 200 miles. So the leak is
>> > > not terrible
>> > >
>> > > I have been doing some research and here are what appear to be the
>> > > options:
>> > >
>> > > 1. Use something like Bars STOP Leak - Head Gasket Fix WORKS WITH
>> > ALL
>> > > TYPES OF ANTIFREEZE! (
>> > > DOES THIS EVEN WORK?
>> > > http://www.barsproducts.com/1111.htm
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > 2. Use something like Permatex on the edge (though I am told this
>> > wont
>> > > work it might be temporary fix)
>> > >
>> > > 3. Remove the engine and have the gaskets replaced $1200-$1500
>> > >
>> > > 4. http://www.alumiweld.com ? temporary fix.
>> > >
>> > > 5. Get a new engine
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > $975 & $190 shipping - Ken Morgan (Jake4parts on ebay)
>> > >
>> > > I talked to this guy Ken Morgan who sells engines under the name
>> > > jake4parts on ebay. He has 2.1 L engine for sale for $975. I know
>> > some
>> > > people say that he shady, I am not sure. Spoke to him and he sounds
>> > > like a nice guy who is knowledgeble.
>> > >
>> > >
>>
>>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-1991-VW-Vanagon-Rebuilt-2-1L-Engine-Long
>>
>>
> -Block_W0QQitemZ320284970269QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320284970269&_trkparms=3
>>
> 9%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting<
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1986-1991-VW-Vanagon-Rebuilt-2-1L-Engine-Long
> -Block_W0QQitemZ320284970269QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320284970269&_trkparms=3
> 9%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ebayphotohosting>
>> > >
>> > > "1986 - 1991 VW Vanagon 2.1L Engine Rebuilt (Long Block) Has all new
>> > > bearings, rings and valve job - This engine is completely resealed
>> > > with all new head gaskets and crank seals... Built in our shop,
>> > these
>> > > engines also comes with all installation gaskets to complete the
>> > > installations into your vanagon... Comes with flywheel or flex plate
>> > > - Specify whether you have an automatic or stickshift...
>> > >
>> > > This engine also fits 83-85 Vanagon waterboxers with a small
>> > > modification to the center intake manifold plenum (ask for product
>> > > circular)... Comes with a 12mo/12,000mile warranty, technical
>> > > bulitens for start-up and break-in as well as selection of motor
>> > oils
>> > > for long life and reliability...
>> > >
>> > > Shipping Flat Rate $190.00 to any major city trucking terminal in
>> > the
>> > > Continental USA - For Home delivery or Liftgate truck service add
>> > > $96.00"
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Need some help trying to figure out what I should I, finances are
>> > > tight. I want to move to California and drive my van there.
>> > >
>> > > Much appreciated all the ideas that you send my way.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Thanks,
>> > >
>> > > Robert
>> > >
>> > > NY
>> >
>> > Be the filmmaker you always wanted to be-learn how to burn a DVD
>> > with WindowsR. Make your smash hit
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> Crescent Beach, BC
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>