>> > 
>> > I am doing a mini rebuild on my 80 vanagon. By mini rebuild I mean I am
>> > changing the cylinders and pistions but do not spliting the cranckcase 
open.
>> > 
>> > Everything has proceeded well except I can't get the piston pin out.
>> > Any suggestions appreciated.
>> 
>> Need more details.  Can you not get the clip out?  Or the pin itself?
>> Which one?  All of them?  On my engine, I did this once with the engine
>> in the van and couldn't get the #3 pin out.  I had to grind a small
>> notch in the transmission case to get it out.
>> 
>> -David
>> 
>
>The engine is out of the van. I have also taken the circlip off. The rod
>is still hooked up to the cranckshaft. The pin is too tight. And I didn't
>want to bang on the pin being still connected to the cranckshaft.
>
>Regards,
>Vahid
>
The last engine I took apart had little ridges built up around the circlip 
groove.  I couldn't get these pins out either.  I made a tool to pull the 
pin out.  It consited of a 3/8" bolt and a 2 washers.  One washer was cut to 
make a "C" shape, while the other is normal.  You just slip the bolt through 
the pin and then slip on the C washer.  By tightning a nut on the bolt,  the 
pin will be pulled out.  Once the pin has reached the outside of the piston, 
You have to put a socket on the bolt and start tightning again.  
        The only other thing I had to do is file slightly on the bolt's head 
(at the points) so it would slip through the pin.  The bolt had a 9/16"head. 
 It is best to use a bolt with threads the whole length, as you could put 
the socket on first, and pull the pin in one fell swoop.
        After the pin was out I noticed that the little ridge had been cut 
right out of the pistons.  H very sharp piece of aluminum, so be carefull.
  
Good luck.

  Chris Bridge
  
  ''71 Westy (Sportsmobile?)
  Favorite quotes:
  "Virginia Tech- yea, the best 5, or maybe even 6 years of your life."
  "They even throw in the stomach ulcers for free." 
  E-mail: cbridge@vt.edu