Have you looked here?

http://benplace.com/vw2.htm

His site has a lot of useful info, and I'll bet there's some answers
to your questions.

Neil.

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 9:09 AM, AAG - Larry Word <word_aag@comcast.net> wrote:
> Group's advise thus far: (1) determine true cause of stud failure - Either heat or corroision or pre-load issues would likely indicate changing the full set.
>
>                                     (2) Always replace the stud cap nuts - the nut you torque to "set head gasket"....WHY always replace?  The studs have visible corrison.
>
>                                     (3) Piston rings really do not wear - they loose tension, break, get stuck etc.
>
>                                     (4) Piston wear is most likely to occur in the ring lands on the pistons.
>
>                                     (5) If you're replacing the rings you probably should hone cylinders trying to avoid piston slap - Can anyone explain this further?                                                    (6) New rings will set within old cylinder jugs, even without honing  - Can anyone attest to this fact(s)? Tells of what you did?
>
>                                     (7) Takes time to properly hone cylinders, else better off adding a new set of cylinders - at that point you should do both sides of engine.
>
>
>
>  Is there a trick to (a) removing the wrist pins that hold pistons to rod in this Vanagon engine - I've done aircooled engine but never Vanagon's?
>
>                             (b) re-installing the new ring set (3 rings in my case) onto the old pistons
>
>                                     -Art of inspecting and clean the ring lands on the piston - PLEASE ADVISE!
>
>
>
>  Sorry to "scream" but I really don't want to get this wrong - Thanks in advance for group's collective wisdom, I'm always impressed....
>
>
>
>  Have a good day!
>
>  Larry Word
>  Ga.
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/