1986 2.1 L 2WD Vanagon GL Head Gasket Project

[flyboyaviator]

I'm replacing the pipe from the block to the hose under the big pulley to the water pump, can some one tell me the size and length of the rubber hose.

[fraggle00]

Great method to get things apart. What's the best way to get things back together?

[fraggle00]

BIG THANKS for this old thread. I'm going in soon, I've got a great milkshake in the sump.
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'91 Vanagon Carat
'87 Porsche 928S4 DOWN
'12 Fiat 500 Abarth

[HoustonPhotog]

[mlbdriver]

[SteelB12]

This is a great, informative thread. I bought the engine gasket kit from Van Cafe, but am only planning on doing the head gaskets. Not wanting to go as deep as the OP did. Looks like I will have to try doing it with the engine in as I don't have a lift. Will probably hate it
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1987 Westy

[mrlimbo]

[morymob]

Yuk, never seen anything close to that ugly mess, has it's life been parked on the beach? Looks like the head is pulled off the cyls right?? all of ex loose?? flat guards under head off? Check pushrod tubes, they can get really stuck and bellows sect will streatch about this amt and hold head.

[mrlimbo]

I started replacing the left side of my engine last night.. This one is kicking my ass right now. The head stud holes are so full of corrosion that I can't get the head off.. spent two hours last night just struggling with the head to get it this far.

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-Jim DiGennaro, Samba lurker, Disc Jockey and LiMBO freak www.LiMBObus.org
'67 Kombi- April, its not original and I don't care.
'87 Vanagon GL (daily driver)
'01 Jetta Honey's car
Looking for a Vanagon weekender or Escorial green camper.

[morymob]

Before removing heads rotate crank so pistons are 1/2 way down the cyls,gives u more wiggle room if a stuck head needs assistance to unstick and not end up with oil ring or more pulled out bottom of cyl. U will see tabs opposite sides on cyls usable to pry a stuck head loose. Inspect area where cyl seats to head, any dark/black areas will mean start of a compression leak. Always replace the sealing rings here, should be in kit. Iuse an old cyl and with a bit of 'fine' valve grind compound spin the cyl by hand to clean up the sealing area of each cyl, u want all the sealing u can get here.My 2-cts.

[iamdonquixote]

[syncrodan]

Ive done a ton of them without replacing the black orings between the cylinder and the crankcase as well. I've done several on customer cars without removing the water pump, despite my warnings of "hey, while we're at it..."

One bit of advice I'd like to add is this. Do you ever hear lifters tapping? It'd be a shame to replace the head gaskets only to have the lifters give you trouble right after and have to remove the heads again. It's happened to me before, swapped the heads out, adjust the lifters, and have one or two that won't pump up for whatever reason. The only way to replace a bad lifter is to use a spring loaded push rod tube and I think they're expensive.

[mrlimbo]

[beachinwesty]

Just recently did the heads on my 85 1.9l. I assume that you are doing this with the engine in the van? Otherwise you wouldn't ask the question I don't think. Best thing to do is remove the engine and work on it properly. Trust me on this. I did it with the engine in but I feel like it was a minor miracle that it all worked out. If you're keeping it in the van, then you can get the heads off without removing the water pump, but it's getting the heads back on that poses the problem.

There is a small hose between the driver's side head and the thermostat housing that can't be attached unless you remove the thermo housing, which requires you to remove the water pump. My experience was that there's no way to avoid removing the waterpump when you are reassembling everything.

Hope that helps.

Beachinwesty

85 Weekender

[88formula]

im doing head gaskets soon and have been reading up. does the water pump HAVE to come off? im getting a victor reienze head gasket set (x2) does it come with the inner cylinder o rings, and do you have to change them if not disturbed?
im leaking at the coolant jacket, and my budget wassnt prepared to do this soo soon...

[outwesty]

edited

[sanchius]

reply started as new topic

[tencentlife]

id, did you get your backfiring and cooling issues straightened out?
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[id]

Stephan,

The Tstat housing was included in my head order from Boston Bob. Waterbox gasket sealant (the black stuff) came with the gasket package along with the yellow thread sealant.

The other sealants, Gascacinch etc..., came from various FLAPS around town.
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'Green Dragon' 1986 Westy GL

[stephanhipwell]

hi i have a 2.1 that i am building up for my bug, could you tell me where you got your stat housing and sealants from?

thanks
Stephan