In a message dated 23/09/2008 10:04:16 P.M. Central Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

        You need to take those  heads to a machine shop that rebuilds the
heads of engines.  Have them  check the heads and rebuild them as needed.  They
will check for internal  cracking, check and replace the valves, valve guides
and valve seats if they are  needed.  Have them give you an estimate of the
cost beforehand as  if the heads are in really bad shape it would bet better to
buy new AMC  heads.  Don't forget to inspect the ends of the valve adjusters.
If  they are worn or pitted badly they must be resurfaced or replaced.

>>>>>>>I'm working on a 1985 Vanagon with a stock  1.9L gas engine. It was
"remanufactured" by VW about 50K miles ago. It  began leaking a bit of
coolant over the last couple of years and a few  months ago it began leaving
4 to 5" puddles on the shop floor. I decided to  remove the engine to R&R the
heads because I was going to replace the  exhaust system as well and I know
it's much easier to access the head and  bolts for both projects.

I've got the engine on my bench, the heads  removed and cleaned but I'm
stumped regarding the condition of a couple of  the intake valve tops. There
are small areas of missing metal that looks  like a coating of some sort. One
valve (#4) has just a few 1/8" pieces  missing and the other (#1) has perhaps
20% of the coating missing in  various sizes but none larger than 1/8". The
missing metal is on the outer,  flat part of the valve.

Can anyone shed some light on this condition?  Is it fatal? I'd like to get
at least another 50K out of this engine  without pulling the heads
again!<<<<<<<<<<<

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15,  2008