Blown Head Gasket, can it be changed in the car? Options

[fatlando]

I haven't been able to take pictures yet, but everybody I've talked to said it sounds like a Head Gasket.

Is this painful $$$$

[Cap'n Krusty]

QUOTE (ClayPerrine @ Jun 27 2005, 11:17 AM)

QUOTE (Mark Henry @ Jun 27 2005, 01:12 PM) QUOTE (Sir Fartalot @ Jun 27 2005, 12:14 PM) Air cooled motors don't have a head gasket like a V8 does.   But they did have a head gasket ring, Porsche/VW stopped using them (and had a bulletin saying to stop using them) long ago. You should lap the piston to the head...so if you have head gaskets you should do both heads and get rid of them. I disagree. The factory put the seal ring in there for a purpose. I had this discussion with Lyle Cherry the other day. He and I agree that the seal ring needs to go back in when you put the head back on the jugs. If you have a bulletin from the factory saying to leave them out, then I would like to see it. That would also make me wonder why the factory still ships engine gasket kits with the seal rings in them... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) I have also never heard of lapping the jugs into the cylinder head... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) Capt'n Crusty.. would you like to chime in on this one????

Here I am! I agree, Clay. Never seen the PORSCHE tech bulliten. I have seen the VW one, and read the part where they talk about a head redesign that eliminates the need for the gaskets. I always use the gaskets, and I would NEVER "lap the cylinders to the heads", especially after paying the machinist to cut the heads with his expensive mill, his costly measuring equipment, and his decades of practical experience and knowledge. Why mess with perfection and induce another variable that just doesn't need to be there. Lapping the cylinders is just another urban legend that won't go away.