]From vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu  Sat Feb 11 12:27:24 1995
]Date: Sat, 11 Feb 95 12:21:25 CST
]
]>I have a 1984 VW Vanagon that needs some work...
]
]Yes, The heads will probably need to be replaced...
]I too have an 84' that is leaking coolant and oil and will need to replace
]the head gaskets (and if the heads are pitted the heads as well) Total
]price for mine is $890 for the head gaskets and if the heads need
]replacing then add about $800 more.

When I bought my '84 Vanagon three years ago it was in precisely the same
condition that you now find yours in.  I was told by two shops that the
only solution was new heads, and the price was in about the range both of
you have described, or a bit more.  I asked if the heads could be milled,
and was told that no one ever did that.  I had one of the shops pull the
heads and send them off to a machine shop here in Austin that had never
done Vanagon heads, and haven't had a lick of trouble since (crosses
fingers).  It also seems to have a bit more power, while wanting higher
octane fuel than it's supposed to need - I suppose because of the
slightly higher compression.  It still wasn't cheap, but I saved
something like $500 in total, if I remember correctly.

-- 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Jerry Dunham, MSE              Atarian ordinaire              (512)244-8598
Tandem Computers, Inc.                                dunham@isd.tandem.com
Integrity Systems Division                          dunham_jerry@tandem.com

        The reason most people get lost in thought is because it is
                    unfamiliar territory.     --Paul Fixx