[Vwdiesel] Reman or new head?

[Chris Geiser]

If you leave the manifold on, I assume you disconnect the manifold from
exhaust?  Probably works ok on those with spring clips, but on a diesel
vanagon its more work getting exhaust apart than simply unbolting manifold
from the head...

CG

**Sent with mobile device.
 On Feb 28, 2011 9:45 PM, "mark shepherd" <mark at shepher.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
> Assuming it's not a cracked block, or similar, then simply take head off
and
> leave manifolds on.
> Then if head face is bowed, just stick some wet and dry paper on to a
sheet
> of plate glass and skim the head. Rumours of misalligned cam carriers are
> grossly exaggerated.
> Cam isn't seizing now is it? No, so why should it in the future?
> Manifolds keep carrier square.
> From my small experience, but close and detailed inspection, most of the
> warping is from localised distortion of the head face, where it has
softened
> and shifted whilst under heat.
>
> I skimmed off more than a mm on my current head, trying to get every
blemish
> out [unneccessary]
> Leave inconel cups in too. No need to disturb them.
>
> Milling tools may not like them some say, but abrasives don't care...
>
> Mark
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Craig O." <cosborn at epix.net>
> To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 2:40 AM
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Reman or new head?
>
>
>>
>> The head gasket on my 81 is leaking badly after a thermostat failure /
>> overheating incident. I also have a lot of oil in my coolant. I
>> haven't started the engine since this happened. I haven't disassembled
>> it yet, but I am assuming that the head is probably warped.
>> In the PartsPlace catalog, they go into detail about how most machine
>> shops do not have the expertise to recondition a VW diesel head as there
>> is not much tolerance for shaving metal from the head. They state that
>> in order to properly recondition a VW head it has to be heated and
>> pressed. Is this just a ploy to get me to purchase a head from them?
>> If I was to purchase a head from them,
>> I can get a re-manufactured head from PartsPlaceInc for mid $450 or a
>> new head from them for $600. My question is this -- If I do decide to
>> acquire a replacement head, is there an advantage to spending the extra
>> money to put on a new head?
>> Also, they mention in their catalog that they recommend using a gasket
>> sealant called Hylomar but I see that VW does not recommend a sealer.
>>
>> Craig
>>
>>
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>
>
>
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