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Subject:dropping the engine, 81 air cooled
From:John
Date:Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:56:08 -0600

81, Air Cooled Vanagon.

I am pretty sure I have to at least replace/rebuild one head, but its
blistering hot in the garage, and probably a few days before I get
re-hydrated enough to go back out, retest  everything and verify the results
I have come up with.... :-)

So, its time to start the mind thinking towards pulling the engine, for
either new heads, or maybe a new engine. Just in the thinking mode.

Do folks have any good urls tucked away that explain this process in more
detail? Pix would be great. I have manuals, it doesn't look that hard.
Popping the stuff off the top, and actually dropping the engine is pretty
easy to imagine.

 The place where I think I will have the most trouble envisioning the
process as I go over it in my mind, is at the trans. I am curious to find
pix, or explanations of what I will find at the trans/engine connection.
Can't drop the engine straight down, so looking for expriences, or writeups
about what to expect when I get to the point where I am separating the
motor/trans.

Also, how high do I have to get the van up, to make clearance for all of
this.

Lots of folks say this is a one hour job. That means 8 hours for the first
timer :-) which is fine with me. I just like to imagine what I will be
doing, long before I actually get after it....

Thanks much for any pointers, or references.....

John