Hmmm...I guess I look at things differently than Stuart. I'm not a guru
like Alistair either :) , but one thing I appreciate about the waterboxer
is that it's really pretty easy to work on. The last time I changed a head
I did it with the engine still installed, van sitting in my driveway. Took
about three hours. I have a collection of used heads, acquired at an
average price of maybe $50 each. (I also have a couple with
waiting-to-be-drilled studs!)

Anyway, I think my point is that there's more than one way to skin a head
gasket. I respect Stuart's opinion, but tend to think people should at
least know they have the option to just dive in and fix-their-own-stuff.
Spend your time rather than your money.

Angus

On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 7:58 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>wrote:

> That's just the beginning!  Figure $3000-$4000 by the time you drive off
> with tax and all the other stuff you'll need to replace just to get a
> decent
> warranty from the shop.
>
> All good advice here, but you really have to be a fearless DIY mechanic
> with
> a decent collection of tools, jacks, jack stands, workbench, spare time,
> etc., and prior engine messing experience to tackle the WBX.   I'm an
> experienced DIYer and won't tackle it.  If you have AMC heads, then it's
> been "rebuilt" before, and probably not the bottom half, only a head
> replacement.
>
> I'm on my fourth WBX.  It's in my "new" '85 van and is the original engine,
> and hope it will last for one more summer camping season before I do the
> Subaru conversion I'm acquiring parts for.
>
> The stock engines can go for a long time. Dennis can attest to that because
> he knows how to take care of them and drives the flat east coast between NY
> and FL (pushing 300k miles I think?), but rebuilds don't last anywhere near
> as long and are very expensive.  You simply can't get quality parts for the
> WBX today, and they are labor intensive to fix, so it's a waste of money
> IMHO.  You'll likely have to get a complete new exhaust system that doesn't
> fit well too (yours is 30 years old!), so add that to the cost.
>
> Do you know how to extract a broken stud?  You will likely need to, and it
> can be easier to get a new head.  Alistair has a story on how he heat
> hardened a broken stud trying to drill it out that he'll share with you.  I
> felt his pain:
> http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0408D&L=vanagon&P=R38163
>
> You and I are mere mortals, not gurus with real shops like Alistair or
> Dennis. You can try to patch it up as cheaply as possible (and it won't be
> cheap), but you will likely need new heads (of questionable quality) since
> the eroded sealing surface cannot be machined.  Your best alternative is to
> find a serviceable used engine and start saving for a Subaru or Bostig
> conversion if you want to keep the rig for the long term. There are plenty
> of them around the Northwest. I'll have a serviceable one available next
> winter (I hope).  Note I didn't say "good," just "serviceable," and likely
> serviceable for only a short time.
>
> Again, good luck.  I've owned one of these since 1986, and I've learned my
> lesson now.  Sort of-- and it's been painfully expensive.  Spread out over
> 40 years it doesn't look so bad though, and I'm spending more again now
> since I've jumped back into the abyss.
>
> Whatever you decide it will be worth it, since there is no replacement for
> these rigs.
>
> Stuart
> '85 Westy, fourth in a series of VW campers
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Carchrae [mailto:carchrae@gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, May 09, 2013 10:57 AM
> To: Stuart MacMillan
> Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: coolant overflow fears and thoughts
>
> Thanks Stuart.  I know it...   I just called a local shop and they said
> it would be around 1500 to do the head gasket job, and another 500 per head
> if they need replacing.  Sigh.
>
> Tom
>