I know little of the various tricks for "getting a few more miles" but I
CAN tell you that head gasket replacement is simply NOT that big a deal.
     I found out about the "Curse of the VW Headgaskets" after I bought my
83.5. For years I lived in fear of every little damp spot that showed up
under the engine. Two years ago the blow finally struck. Finances being what
they were it was fix it myself or park the Westy. Armed with "JB Weld" the
Bentley and some hints from the folks here on the list I went to it. After a
week of working a ocuple of hours a day the job was finisned and, much to my
amazement, it started with the first key turn.
   It would not have taken me that long had I not needed to make a trip to
the local machine shop to have a broken stud extracted. Also adding to the
length of time was the careful laying out and labeling of every part I
removed. Total cost of parts was under $200.
    I am NOT a mechanic. That job was the first time had ever been inside an
engine. The job is a BIG PITA but certainly NOT the occasion for donning
sack cloth and ashes nor for weeping and gnashing of teeth. If I can do
it....

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of James Ruch
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 3:37 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: head gaskets

Hi All

I had hoped that maybe I was immune... but I started dripping coolant last
week :-(   While I try to decide if the gasket job is over my head (no pun
intended) or not, can anyone tell me if I might get a few more miles out of
my '85 transporter before jumping into this job (or hiring it out)?  I'm
probably getting about 20 drips per minute (dpm ?).  I'm not very hopeful
here.

J.Peter
'85 Transporter: "Snugvagon"

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