Pulling heads & cylinders from a VW Vanagon, ...can it be done without pulling the engine? Options

[Radmacdaddy]

Anyone who reads this and knows who it's from knows that I am in a time crunch. I will be with me new van in two days time, so will know more then, and could possibly answer this question myself...

anyway... I see pics of the heads being removed from a 70's vw van while the engine is in the van here: http://benplace.com/heads.htm

So, my question is, is this also possible on a vanagon with the updated design... mine is a 1980.

Finally, is there any reason I can't go further and remove the cylinders as well from there?

Ultimately, I am thinking this is far quicker than my newbie self removing the engine, without all the tools at hand without having to build them or buy them (I'm $ crunched too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif))

Thanks for any thoughts... this has been a great active forum!

[Cap'n Krusty]

Look at #3 before you do anything. Do a compression test. These things like to drop valve seats and drop valves. They also erode the edge of the piston, right down to the top ring groove, and I think you're gonna find the top end is toast. I don't think you can remove that wrist pin with the #4 piston and cylinder in place. Personally, I think you're just being stubborn. There's no way I'd even attempt this in the car, and I've been working on T2s and Vanagons since 1973. Never crossed my mind to do it in the car .....................

The Cap'n,

[Radmacdaddy]

Look at #3 before you do anything. Do a compression test. These things like to drop valve seats and drop valves. They also erode the edge of the piston, right down to the top ring groove, and I think you're gonna find the top end is toast. I don't think you can remove that wrist pin with the #4 piston and cylinder in place. Personally, I think you're just being stubborn. There's no way I'd even attempt this in the car, and I've been working on T2s and Vanagons since 1973. Never crossed my mind to do it in the car .....................

The Cap'n,

would a rebuild with 30k erode a head like that?

I'm not being stubborn Cap'n, just being sure that's what's ahead of me, and appreciate your advice fer sure. well, ok... I have known to be stubborn. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Thanks!

[jcd914]

would a rebuild with 30k erode a head like that?

Probably not if the rebuild was done right but if it was done right you would not be having a problem with it.

I had a customer with 1.7 engine that was a "fresh rebuild" as in 100 miles that smoked so bad he came to us wanting it rebuild his "new" engine.
When I got the engine apart I could slide one of the valve guides up and down the valve stem with a screwdriver thru the intake port. After seeing that the customer opted to buy a new engine rather than trust anything done by the previous shop.

Always start with the basics and verify very thing before you dive in deep.

Jim