I think it's the gaskets.  I did one a while ago that failed while sitting
in the driveway as the customer was on his way to pick it up.  All I did was
replaced the gasket again using same parts, sealant, and torque. All  was
okay.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Mullendore <thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 11:02 PM
Subject: AVP and head gasket woes.....

>I would like to hear from anyone on the list that has had any head gasket
>problems with AVP's rebuilds. I installed one in a customers Westy, the
>first time I've used their engines. It was unanimous from you folks that
>they were the way to go for  quality. Well, here limps in the van with only
>500 miles and a totally gushing left head gasket. I've replaced many sets
on
>other customer's vans, never a leaker. Is it possible that the AMC heads
are
>not machined correctly, or more likely that the gaskets (Elring) are at
>fault? Or worse, that AVP is not doing something quite right. They agreed
to
>pay me to replace the leaking gasket, but indicated that "some people don't
>bleed the cooling systems properly, and steam builds up in the head,
causing
>the gasket to fail". Well, I always do bleed them, per the Bentley
>instructions, twice on completion, and again at the first oil change (300
>miles). They claim that they can tell by the way the gasket blew whether
the
>van was bled properly. Sounds to me like they are looking for a way to get
>out of warranting some of their defects. Your thoughts? Thanks!
>
>Karl