I was going to say how together is the engine ?
is it all in the van and running ?
if so I could understand reluctance to take it all back apart if it seems to
be working OK.

personally though, I probably would take it apart and put the green 0-rings
where they belong at the top of the cylinder barrel.

they perform an important function- keeping coolant away from the metal
sealing rings.
But you could just take your changes and see how it goes too !
if it's not fully assembled, I'd go back in and do the right thing for
sure..
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Cochran" <mxsailor@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 5:46 PM
Subject: Re: Is this question just too stupid?

> Dennis,
> OK I copy  that.
> Then unless the black rings melt and fail then I'm probably Ok. Mike
> suggests buying the whole gasket set 'cause it's cheaper than two head
> gasket sets, so I'll do that... and increase my meds when I drive it.
>
> Jim C.
>
> On Aug 30, 2008, at 5:11 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
>> The green and black o-rings are also different diameters. It is
>> possible
>> that they got sheared as the head went on. They really do not do much.
>> They are not responsible for the actual compression seal. That is
>> the job
>> of the top metal gasket between the cylinder and the head. The o-
>> ring is
>> there to keep coolant away from that metal gasket. Why I do not know.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of
>> Jim Cochran
>> Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 6:45 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Is this question just too stupid?
>>
>> Mike,
>>
>> the nearest little green O-rings are a 600 mile (rt) drive away, a
>> week to wait for ordering/shipping and crossing an int'l border twice.
>> If I use the green O-rings to seal the other head I can have this
>> vehicle together tonight. Maybe I'll just do it and call it an
>> experiment. I hate driving to the states.
>>
>> I'll go ahead and order two head gasket sets and they'll be handy when
>> and if this breaks. Pick them up next time I cross the border for
>> something else.
>>
>> Jim C.
>> "Experience is what you get right after you need it."
>>
>>
>> On Aug 30, 2008, at 3:15 PM, Mike Collum wrote:
>>
>>> Jim,
>>>
>>> I honestly don't know of anyone who ever tried running with the
>>> black O-rings at the top where the green ones go.
>>>
>>> If it were me, I'd just say RATS and redo it.
>>>
>>> My saying is, "Experience is what you get when you were expecting
>>> something else".
>>>
>>> Mike
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim Cochran wrote:
>>>> Or is my mail not getting through? I'll try again.
>>>> OK My first time doing this- it appears I put the wrong O-rings on
>>>> the
>>>> left hand side head. I put the black O-rings at the top of the
>>>> cylinder, not the green ones. Do I redo this installation because
>>>> the
>>>> O-rings won't handle the heat? Or, will the black rings work and I
>>>> can
>>>> move on to the next thing?
>>>> Jim C.