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Subject:Re: vanagon Digest - 20 Oct 2004 - Special issue (#2004-1025)
From:Jonathan Poole
Date:Wed, 20 Oct 2004 21:33:39 -0500

Hello fellow VW fans,

Hopefully this question will not create too many redundancies in the archives.

The air-cooled engine in my '82 westfalia is performing poorly.  It
sounds great (no clicks ticks or knocks) etc. but doesn't have as much
power as it should.  I believe that the engine has around fifty to
sixty thousand on it and that the bottom end is solid.  The
compression numbers are (average from three checks):

cyl. 1 -- 96
cyl. 2 -- 137
cyl. 3 -- 77
cyl. 4 -- 135

There is a moderate amount of fouling aound the exhaust valve springs.
My plans are to replace the rings and have the heads rebuilt.  If the
pistons/cylinders show too much wear then I will replace them also.

My questions are as follows:

Does anyone know of a good shop in central Mississippi or around
Memphis Tennessee where I can get the heads rebuilt?

What should I expect to pay for the head rebuild?

Should I request any particular parts (valves/seats/etc.) be used?

Have any of you had success with replacing only the rings on this engine?

Thanks for you help

Jonathan Poole
'82 ac westy

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