I suppose you could just see if the head bolts have say, at least 80 lbs
torque on them.
Not 'too' valid a test, but you just want to make sure they are tight I
beleive.

They are stretch head bolts of course.
I beleive that after that intial 44 lbs plus 1/2 turn, .......you do another
have turn after it's warmed up ( after putting  a fresh head gasket, and new
bolts on ) .....and then maybe even another half turn after 1,000 miles.

those 'half turns' are scary sometimes, as it feels like you are twisting
the bolts at 200 ft. lbs......like I'm afraid they'll break off, those half
turns take so much force to do.
 also.......
the head gasket gets more stress on it than any part in the engine, endless
warm up cool down cycles, the heat of combustion etc. It's amazing how well
they do last.
It's completely normal for any used VW engine, to need a new head gasket,
more or less - 'specially a high miles engine.
I like good german aftermarket head gaskets, no Felrpo's or other 'melican
stuf..
New stretch head bolts too of course. They're not expensive.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "roger sisler" <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 1:12 PM
Subject: Fox head torque question

Hello, this 1.8 is similar to many VW inline four engines, and it is loosing
coolant at the rate of about 1 qt per 50 miles. No exterlal leaks are to be
found, therefore I think it is a head gasket issue. This Fox had been
leaking coolant for some time(damn VW's), however I traced it to a lose
coolant temp sensor at the bottom of the radiator.Got that fixed, and then
this thing started eating up all my antifreeze.

I first want to check the torque on the head gasket to see if all the bolts
are tight to specs. I see that the spec is 44ftpounds + 1/2 turn. That seems
like a difficult measurement to tell if a bolt is loose.I mean. Does anyone
know if there is a proper torque number for this cylinder head torque on the
Fox?

thanks!