Another possibility I've been meaning to try is "Tufram" - a hard-coat
anodizing with TFE infusion that I believe was developed by American
Magnaplate for NASA. It makes aluminum amazingly corrosion resistant, hardens
the surface,  repels about anything and is wear resistant to boot. I've used
it in several designs for "emergency" equipment in industrial environments,
and it has already been used on cylinder heads for 2-cycle engines. On heads a
plus is the combustion chamber surface stays clean with minimal build-up.
While the anodizing wouldn't coat all the interior coolent passages as
strongly, that's usually not a high corrosion area.

I think if Mark Stephens were to do this to their heads and then put in valve
seats by their process you would have heads that would last as long as the
car.

Tom
Austin, TX

----------
From:   Vanagon mailing list on behalf of Todd Francis
Sent:   Saturday, October 18, 1997 7:11 PM
To:     Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU
Subject:        Re: heads

David Bayer wrote:
>
 f? And I remember someone
> posting about a cermics shop on the Oregan border with California that
coated
> the surface which mates with the case... Are you still around?
>
>         This is a syncro, the PO had had phosphate full antifreeze it in,
> which I am going to grumble about now.
>
> dave

  Hi:   I have done 3 engines with ceramic coating. I coated the new
heads on one engine and coated the heads for the other two engines using
used pitted heads. All engines are approaching 50K miles since repair
with no leaks or seaps. The pits in the used heads are filled with a
ceramic putty that is allowed to harden. Then the whole surface of the
head is coated with a coating that retards heat transfer and the way I
see it, it should not corrode. Call Russ Meeks at RM Engineering in
Portland at 503-659-4278. He should be able to help you.
Todd Francis           Ridgefield, Washington USA
'86 Westy Syncro
'91 Tristar