Now that both heads are leaking I’m going to pull the engine.  I can’t bend over for that long to fix both of them!  The donor Subaru is here, we might just put its engine in as is given this much work to fix a piece of junk.  

 

Stuart

 

From: Alistair Bel [mailto:albell@shaw.ca] 
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2015 4:05 PM
To: Stuart MacMillan
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Dreaded water jacket head gasket leak strikes

 

I think it's here, the worst pin was hard, but I had the engine on a stand so I could rotate the engine so the pin would hang just right and be inserted. I also used a cut down ring compressor to get the Pistons in.

 

I know folk do I the heads with engine installed, but jeez it could be real hard if things get sticky. Almost, almost easier to pull the engine. But then you might be tempted to replace other things and the job gets bigger.

 

Alistair

 

 

 

https://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/vanagon-q-and-d-head-replacement-am-i-winning/

 

 

On Dec 20, 2015, at 12:21 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/

 

 

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
oner

 

it's working well on my son's Jeep.. loss of coolant but no leak

(internal

leak)