Oh by the way you have to rotate the piston until the pin lines up with the
hole in the outer water jacket that's there for a bolt on cooling pipe. I
know this is sounding like fun already.

Jim

On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 3:15 PM Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> Fortunately for me, I was able to use a washer-and-threaded-rod setup I
> had made up for water boxers when another 2.1 was out of the car. I used
> this with a slide puller. It was a horrible job and I have been involved
> with some horrible jobs. It was the worst ever! If the head comes right
> off, you're fine. You might as well try it before hauling to a shop, or at
> least pulling it so you can get it into a stand. You won't have to crack
> the case, but you have to be able to get to it and that's limited enough
> with the engine in the stand.
>
> Jim
>
> On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 2:21 PM Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Yeah, how did you do that? The Bentley shows sleeve is installed over the
>> piston, then the assembly is inserted over the rod and the pin and clip
>> inserted.  I've had problems getting piston pins out of different engines,
>> and I don't have those VW tools.  They even have a reamer for removing
>> burrs
>> on the piston to get that pin out.
>>
>> At that point I'd likely have to have the whole mess towed to a shop.  I
>> may
>> just do that now.
>>
>> Stuart
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of
>> Alistair Bel
>> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 12:08 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Dreaded water jacket head gasket leak strikes
>>
>> I pulled the cylinders and put in the new o rings ( I had the gasket set).
>> Then I had the fun of compressing rings etc.
>>
>> Alistair
>>
>> > On Dec 20, 2015, at 11:32 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > I had the same, one sleeve was really stuck to the head, and pulled out
>> about an inch. Several folks told me when that happens you MUST replace
>> the
>> black O ring at it's base. Others said don't bother. Problem was, both
>> these
>> opinions came from respected sources! Supposedly it is possible to replace
>> that O ring without pulling the sleeve off the piston, but I'll be damned
>> if
>> I could figure out how to do it. I chose not to replace the O ring, and
>> had
>> no problems-again, only in 5,000 miles.
>> >
>> > Oh, one other thing. I had a dickens of a time getting the head off the
>> cylinders on one side. It was really stuck and I think I ended up pulling
>> the cylinders from that side.
>> >
>> > Alistair
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > > On Dec 20, 2015, at 10:20 AM, Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > I did a quick and dirty head job a couple of years ago. Before I did
>> it
>> I tried the Subie stop leak and it did help a bit.
>> > >
>> > > I had a couple of spare used heads and I think I swapped in one when I
>> found a crack between the valves on June of the heads I took off.
>> > >
>> > > There was some pitting on the heads and I filled that with jb weld. I
>> used "Right Stuff" sealant on the big rubber seal. Seems to have worked
>> out
>> well, no leaks after two years. I was supposed to be putting in a
>> different
>> engine and this was just a fix until then. Still haven't put in a new
>> engine.
>> > >
>> > > Anyway, pics of the jb weld part here
>> > >
>> > >
>>
>> https://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/vanagon-quick-and-dirty-head-recondi
>> tioning/
>> <https://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/vanagon-quick-and-dirty-head-reconditioning/>
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Alistair
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >> On Dec 20, 2015, at 9:54 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
>> wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >> I had no luck with the Suby conditioner, but then my gasket was
>> torn. I
>> also paid a lot less than the $30.00 this Amazon ad claims is the list
>> price, as I recall at the local Subaru dealer it was $2.50 a bottle. The
>> FIRST head gasket replacement on mine lasted 300 miles-yes, I said the
>> first. I was not happy that at 300 miles I developed another leak, this
>> time
>> around one of the head nuts. I was told by a couple of respected VW gurus
>> that re-using a head may not work, as cracks can happen around the head
>> stud
>> passages. I purchased a "used" head from Go Westy for $350.00. They said
>> it
>> was used with very low mileage but it sure looked brand new to me. The
>> second head gasket/head replacement went a LOT faster than the first one,
>> lol. That repair lasted at least 5K miles. I say at least because I then
>> sold the van. As far as I know it is still going strong. Jeff
>> > >>
>> > >> ----- Original Message -----
>> > >>
>> > >>> for now you may try this Subaru coolant conditioner
>> > >>
>> > >>>
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-SOA635071-Coolant-System-Conditioner/dp/B00IGZP
>>
>> 2UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450574144&sr=8-1&keywords=subaru+coolant+conditi
>> <http://www.amazon.com/Subaru-SOA635071-Coolant-System-Conditioner/dp/B00IGZP2UE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450574144&sr=8-1&keywords=subaru+coolant+conditi>
>> oner
>> > >>
>> > >>> it's working well on my son's Jeep.. loss of coolant but no leak
>> (internal
>> > >>> leak)
>> >
>>
>