Hello,

I'm just dropping in to let you all know I'm a newcomer to this list.

Today I received the title for my '85 Vanagon. It's blue, and in very good
shape with air conditioning and the works. I was impressed.

Anyway, the head gasket is blown, leaks antifreeze REAL bad (not driveable).
I understand this is a real common problem on watercooled Vanagons.

From what the P.O. tells me, the heads themselves are okay, it's just the
gaskets. What should I expect to pay a local mechanic to make such a repair?
Where can I buy the parts and at what cost? I have some mechanical knowledge
(e.g. I can replace shocks, exhaust systems, fuel lines, replace
distributors, fuel pumps, set timings, etc), how hard of a job would this be
for me to do it myself?

Look forward to hearing from yall!

-Ben Wampler
'74 Karmann Ghia Coupe
'71 Type 3 Fastback
'85 Vanagon