Unless you are sure the leak is coming from the head gasket, you
should inspect to make sure it is not the hose to the front of the
head. There is also a coolant junction on the passenger side just
forward of the engine comparment bulkhead. That is prone to fail
catastrophically as well.

As for your 3rd gear shifting difficulties, it can be either a shifter
adjustment of at worst, a cracked 3rd/4th synchro slider. Daryl at www.aatransaxle.com
  comes to mind come rebuild time. He is a listmembers and often
dispense advise here. He's way up north from SF. My local shop sends
theirs to German Transaxle but I personally have not dealt with them.
There's always used transaxle if a rebuild is out of your budget.

Depending on how much of a stickler you are with authenticity, will
determine cost of exhaust. I recently had a local muffler shop
fabricate a muffler and tailpipe for my Syncro for $60.

BTW, since you spelled "syncho" for your transmission the same as the
4wd version of the Vanagon, I am assuming you got yourself a 2wd.:)

BenT

On Sep 27, 2009, at 2:51 PM, David Cohen <Mtbdavid2@AOL.COM> wrote:

> Hi all,
>  I recently purchased a 1990 Vanagon GL from San Diego via
> Craigslist.
> The van had a slow water leak since I purchased it but wasn't  sure
> where it
> was coming from until I filled the overflow tank and opened the
> coolant
> tank top, all the coolant in the entire van poured through the
> middle  bottom
> of the passenger side head.  Front the research I have done it
> appears the
> water jacket seal has failed.  Supposedly the engine has been
> rebuilt but
> has no paperwork to prove this.
>
> I am looking for advice on what should be replaced once the head is
> pulled
> off.   Also, the third gear syncro appears to be going.  After  the
> tranny
> fluid heats up its grinds in and out of third gear.  It doesn't
> grind when
> the van is cold.
>
> Bye the way, I live in northern California, SF bay area and am
> looking for
> a recommendation for a place to have the tranny rebuilt or exchanged.
>
> I am also looking to purchase new exhaust and muffler for this van
> as the
> current setup is completely rusted.
>
> Thanks,
> David