Thanks Dennis, this confirms my understanding
I’ll be replacing said cranium

On Sun, May 21, 2023 at 12:08 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> I have dealt with this doing exhaust work with the heads in place. Fun Bus
> has port with fixed with a heli coil and sealant. The flange is also so
> corroded that that a very high temp special industrial filler is providing
> the seal for the exhaust pipe.
>
> As the head is in your hand I would consider it scrap. As new ones are
> available that is most likely the best route. Pull the heads first and
> determine the true condition of the engine.  The heads and engine cases are
> consumables. Sometimes they just need to be replaced.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
> Richard Koller
> Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2023 11:21 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: cylinder head
>
> Greetings all,
> I have been lurking for years but have enjoyed the List and once in awhile
> I get a chance to pay attention to my neglected vanagons. Now I will have
> some time to start some partial restoration work to my vehicles (90 syncro
> westy, 91 carat) and hope to get some invaluable advice from the List gurus.
> I will replace the heads on the syncro first since one leaks coolant. I
> inherited a used head from a nephew with a broken stud flush with the
> exhaust port. He tried to drill it out but gave up. I checked it out
> thinking to finish the extraction and sprayed penetrant (CRC freeze-off)
> and noticed the spray misting out of the coolant ports in the head. I read
> in the archives that this is most likely a fatal wound to the head since
> the drilling pierced the coolant gallery in the head. This seems like an
> accurate assessment to me, is it to you all?
> Thanks
> Rick
>