I understand Dennis, but I betted it would be easier *for me* to drop the engine.

And dropped it is, after a bit of a fight (stuck screws on sheet metal shroud above muffler).

And I reasoned it would be easier for me, first time wbx head replacement, to have engine on stand for that.

Seeing the dirty old engine out, it makes me wonder why  I am putting it back in. I hope that feeling fades after I install the new old heads and the painted ancillaries.

alistair

On 2013-05-22, at 6:16 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> Between the MIG welder, oxy-acetylene torch, a compact right angle drill and
> a good carbide drill bit set I have yet had to drop and engine or remove the
> heads to replace the exhaust studs/bolts. However it can be a real
> challenge. Heli-coils are my friend when the get real bad. I have seen some
> heads with the exhaust flanges burned or corroded where sealant was
> necessary to keep things quite. Deacon 4011 or 50-L to the rescue. While I
> do like to use Stainless A4 fasteners they also can be a challenge. They can
> corrode under the head and weld nicely to the pipe flange. Then the head
> will break off with little warning. Stainless can be much more difficult to
> drill out. 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Alistair Bell
> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:36 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: quick and dirty head swap
> 
> In my case also. That and a cold weather weeping head were my motivations.
> 
> The exhaust studs/bolts are really rotten on my engine, I serious doubt I
> could get new pipes on with engine in car with less effort than it is going
> to take by dropping engine and swapping heads. 
> 
> I am really excited about having a leak free exh system. I'll post pics
> showing the old pipes and the cobbled repairs I did to them to get me to
> this point.
> 
> cheers
> 
> alistair
> 
> 
> On 2013-05-22, at 8:29 AM, Stuart MacMillan wrote:
> 
>> In my case that would be a new exhaust system!
>> 
>> Stuart
>> Tired '85 Westy, hoping for one more year too.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> 
>> Thank you so much Alistair!  You say 'quick and dirty' - but that 
>> looks pretty clean to me.
>> 
>> I am still looking with fear at my van and have not yet had the guts 
>> to pull the heads off.  I'm going to order a gasket set sometime soon.  
>> Aside from JB weld, the gasket set ( 
>> http://www.busdepot.com/025198009b ) - is there anything else good to have
> on hand?
>> 
>> Tom
>