Bill,

why isn't using JB weld as a coating to prevent galvanic corrosion
caused by pooled coolant between the gasket and the heads a good idea?
Does it degrade the head gasket?

thanks,
Fred

Bill Knight wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> Preventative maintenance is one thing, but using JB Weld on your heads is a
> bad idea.  If you are really trying to do preventative maintenance, and if
> your heads are pitted, have someone grind out the pits and fill them with
> aluminum welding.  Then have them surface finished to the proper depth.
> This is the best approach for fixing the pitting on the heads.  The idea of
> replacing the gaskets is very wise, given the mileage you have on the van.
> Those gaskets do eventually give out and leak.  But if you are going to the
> trouble of pulling the heads and doing a  valve job, why not have the
> machine shop fix the surfaces as well?  Or, another way to go is to buy some
> good rebuilt heads from someone like Boston Engine or Mark Stephens, or any
> of the other good sources.
>
> Bill Knight
> Raleigh, NC
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steven X. Schwenk <sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET>
> To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Tuesday, March 31, 1998 2:07 PM
> Subject: Re: J.B. Weld Head Repair
>
> >Ken:
> >
> >I primarily use my van for traveling/exploring.  If I'm driving it,
> >chanes are I'm far from home...and sometimes miles up a dirt road and
> >hours from a tow truck...if they'll even come in.  If there's an 80%
> >chance that my gaskets are going to fail soon (I have 94k miles)...and
> >could leave me stranded if they fail catastrophically, then it makes
> >sense for me to do a pre-emptive repair, especially when it would cost
> >far, far less than would a repair job on the road...and i would have
> >control over when it gets done.  Not only that, piece of mind has vaule
> >for me.  It seems i could do the job for well under $500 (including
> >having the valves lapped, etc.) and in two Saturdays' worth of work.
> >
> >Some questions remain, though.  (1) What is the probability that my
> >gaskets will fail...now that I have made it to 94k mi. with no leaks;
> >(2) How soon are they likely to fail; (3) Will a preemptive repair using
> >JB weld and new gaskets last as long as rebuilt heads?
> >
> >With info from the current survey, I should be able to answer these
> >questions
> >much more accurately than I can now...
> >
> >steve
> >
> >
> >KENWILFY wrote:
> >
> >> I would not do this or any other thing to the heads as "preventive
> >> maintenance".  My motto is the old "If it aint broke don't fix it!"
> >> Yes I do
> >> other PM stuff like oil, filters, tune-ups, etc. but with the heads;
> >> if
> >> they're not leaking why rip them apart?
> >> They will probably leak soon enough or you could be one of the few
> >> that gets
> >> 200k miles before having problems.  When they leak then you can worry
> >> about
> >> repairing them.
> >> Thats my 2 cents.
> >> Ken Wilford
> >> John 3:16
> >> PS God forbid that you should spend time and money fixing non-leaking
> >> heads
> >> only to have the problem crop up in another 20k miles 'cause the JB
> >> weld ate
> >> your gaskets.
> >