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 $$$$

[Joe Bob]

Air cooled motors don't have a head gasket like a V8 does.

More than likely it's an exhaust leak or a head stud has pulled or loosened up....have you done a leak down or a compression check?

[Dave_Darling]

If you've got a stock motor, then "no it can't be done". (Actually, there's a decent chance you can do it, but it would be such a PITA that the 1-hour dropping of the motor is a very attractive alternative.)

--DD

[ClayPerrine]

QUOTE (Dave_Darling @ Jun 27 2005, 12:55 PM)

If you've got a stock motor, then "no it can't be done". (Actually, there's a decent chance you can do it, but it would be such a PITA that the 1-hour dropping of the motor is a very attractive alternative.) --DD

Actually, you CAN do it. But if you have a place to pull the motor, it's not worth it.

At one point in time, I didn't have a place to put a 914 motor when it was out of the car. So I lowered the front of the motor enough to remove the head, and raised it back up until the head came back from the machine shop. I reversed the process to reinstall the head.



Now I have a garage and that makes it all better.......

If you have a place to remove and store the motor for the time it takes to do the head work, then I recommend just pulling the motor. It's easier to work on that way, and you are more likely to make a mistake working around the chassis stuff that would get in the way when doing it in the car.

[fatlando]

THANX FELLAS! I'll see if I can use the Jedi mind trick and persuade Dino to stop working on his house and help me out.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/slap.gif)

[nebreitling]

you need to know a lot more about your engine to see what it could need. if you're really concerned with it, then give it a tune up and valve adjust, followed by a compression test and leak down.

[Mark Henry]

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.

[ClayPerrine]

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????

[nebreitling]

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

If you have a bulletin from the factory saying to leave them out, then I would like to see it.

do a search. the document has been scanned and posted here before. it is legit.

[MarkV]

Lookie here:

http://www.dolphinsci.com/techbull.html

[ClayPerrine]

Type II 1975 and later vanagons. As of engine number 89000.......

It does not say a thing about updates to older engines.

[Mueller]

QUOTE (MarkV @ Jun 27 2005, 12:38 PM)

Lookie here: http://www.dolphinsci.com/techbull.html

is that an "official" VW bulletin??

Anyone see a real one to verify that some rebuilding shop didn't come up with it???

[ClayPerrine]

The VW engine guy that does my head work (Lyle Cherry) worked for VW since 1963, up until the time he opened his own shop in the 80s. He and I had this discussion. He has never seen a bulletin about leaving out the head gaskets. If he did, he would not recommend putting them in.

[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.

[root]

I've only rebuilt 4 t4's, always used the ring 'cause face grinding and then lapping is machine shop $ and time consuming. We used to anneal the copper head ring gaskets in motorcycles and had alot of success. The t4 head/jug design is quite similar to say a BSA Lightning 500cc if you know what I mean? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool_shades.gif)

[Mueller]

do the /6 motors that have cast iron cylinders have a gasket??

[ClayPerrine]

QUOTE (Cap'n Krusty @ Jun 27 2005, 01:58 PM)

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.

Think about this... If they redesigned the heads that would NOT apply to the old heads that are on the cars we own.


Thanks Capt'n.

[Cap'n Krusty]

QUOTE (MarkV @ Jun 27 2005, 11:38 AM)

Lookie here: http://www.dolphinsci.com/techbull.html

VW, NOT Porsche ...................... Note you also have to replace the pistons AND the connecting rods when you do this mod. The Cap'n

[Cap'n Krusty]

QUOTE (Mueller @ Jun 27 2005, 12:00 PM)

do the /6 motors that have cast iron cylinders have a gasket??

Yes ................ The Cap'n

[eric914]

The tech bullitan does not say the heads have been redesigned. It says the following modifications have been to the remanufactured engines.

As for longer rods and cylinders, why? The bulitan clearly states use a larger aluminum shim on the block side to compensate for the removed gaskets.

As for not lapping cylinders and all that expensive machine work, do you lap valves after all that expensive head work? Of course you do (or the head remanufacture did it for you).

As for this being only for type II's the following is from the PET.

039 100 031 X SHORT ENGINEEXCHANGE74 KW, 100 DIN-PSWITHCYLINDER HEADOIL COOLERFLYWHEEL 1 039.GB