Been rebuilding VW engines for 30+ years.  Used to work at a VW dealer.
Been using Permatex Form-A-Gasket for at least 25 yrs (used to use that
brown shellac stuff like the factory used).
Never had a single case-split leak, ever.  Permatex is very easy to remove
,not expensive or hard to find (all FLAPS have it).
Never used a silk thread (even though I'm a trained, licensed aircraft
mechanic).
Have heard some folks rave over the Yamaha and the Porsche stuff, but it is
expensive and hard to find.
Never heard anyone rave over the Curil stuff, but it is expensive and
hard-to-find.
Do NOT used silicone RTV, Tom Bowman found that it kept the halves apart by
.002", preventing proper bearing crush).

YMMV,

Mike B.

-----Original Message-----
From: Old Volks Home
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 12:44 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Choosing a case sealer

My preference is Elring's Curil(tm) Products, the original stuff VW
used to assemble in the 1st place.  I've used the product(s) to
assemble aircooled engines (Type 1 and Type 4 in the past with
excellent results thanks to the guidance of an experienced VW Factory
mechanic a few decades ago. Whether they are applicable to the
Wasserboxer, I can't say because I've never assembled one.  But I can
find out.

There are 3 different compounds for specific uses.  I'm not in
position at the moment to elaborate, but tomorrow when I'm in the
office, I will update when I have the reference materials at hand.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
75 914 1.8 "Nancy"
Full Timing Since March 1999
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 8:29 PM, Tom Lambas <twlambas@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well now that I'm waiting for some new connecting rod nuts, maybe
> someone can help me decide between Permatex Aviation form-a-gasket (3H),
> or
> Permatex Super "300" form-a-gasket (83H) to seal the case halves.  I have
> them
> both on hand.
>
> So, between the two, does anybody have a preference?
>
> Tom L