Lost my head
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- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Gresham, OR
- Status: Offline
Lost my head
Driving home from the firehouse on Sunday morning I heard the bang, felt the loss of power and heard the loud chugging noise that has become all too familiar for me lately.
For the third time in a year I have blown #1 spark plug out of the cylinder head on my 77 westy. First time I put an insert in and it lasted a few weeks before going out again. Last time I had Trafton do it for me and it lasted for several months. Now I need a new head since I am not able to put in any more inserts.
I have a few questions for all the helpfuls out there:
*Do I have to replace both heads or can I get away with doing one?
*Do they come ready to bolt on or do they need additional tinkering before I bolt to the engine and re-install?
*Where do I buy them from? Keeping in mind I don't want to have to sell my kids to pay for them.
*What could be causing the plug to keep blowing?
Thanks in advance
For the third time in a year I have blown #1 spark plug out of the cylinder head on my 77 westy. First time I put an insert in and it lasted a few weeks before going out again. Last time I had Trafton do it for me and it lasted for several months. Now I need a new head since I am not able to put in any more inserts.
I have a few questions for all the helpfuls out there:
*Do I have to replace both heads or can I get away with doing one?
*Do they come ready to bolt on or do they need additional tinkering before I bolt to the engine and re-install?
*Where do I buy them from? Keeping in mind I don't want to have to sell my kids to pay for them.
*What could be causing the plug to keep blowing?
Thanks in advance
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
Check the fancypants build thread, this has been discussed in length lately.
I'd say you have metal fatigue on the head. I'd replace it.
You only need to replace one side.
I'd say you have metal fatigue on the head. I'd replace it.
You only need to replace one side.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
- dingo
- IAC Addict!
- Location: oregon - calif
- Status: Offline
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
Good point. Have you taken it to Hall's yet?
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
-
- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Gresham, OR
- Status: Offline
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
The only decent VW machine shop in Portland, on NE Killingsworth. Lots of us have had work done there.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
- Gypsie
- rusty aircooled mekanich
- Location: Treadin' Lightly under the Clear Blue!
- Status: Offline
Might be able to. Have them tell you what they can do and weigh your pros and cons about fix vs replace. You can get an amc head from Halsey.
Once you have it off you can look around and see if the valves will tell you anything about the cylinder in question. How have valve adjustments been lately? Big changes in #1?
Personally, I would just plan on a swap out.
Once you have it off you can look around and see if the valves will tell you anything about the cylinder in question. How have valve adjustments been lately? Big changes in #1?
Personally, I would just plan on a swap out.
So it all started when I wanted to get better gas mileage....
-
- Getting Hooked!
- Location: Gresham, OR
- Status: Offline
Sounds like a plan. I will take the head up there and have them look at it once I get it all apart. I will take some pics so you guys to poke fun at my engine innards.Gypsie wrote:Might be able to. Have them tell you what they can do and weigh your pros and cons about fix vs replace. You can get an AMC head from Halsey.
Once you have it off you can look around and see if the valves will tell you anything about the cylinder in question. How have valve adjustments been lately? Big changes in #1?
Personally, I would just plan on a swap out.
As for valve adjustments, I haven't done any in a while. Trafton gave it a tune up when they replaced the CAT and he never mentioned anything about valve adjustment issues. I have hydraulic lifters so not sure there is gonna be much to notice. Especially for a novice like me.
- Gypsie
- rusty aircooled mekanich
- Location: Treadin' Lightly under the Clear Blue!
- Status: Offline
The hydros will accommodate changes to the valve train without needing adjustment if things are changing a little, but they can still tell you a story when it comes to what's happening.
Once you set them at 1 1/2 to 2 turns in you can check them later (say 500-1000 miles) by counting how may turns it takes to get them back to the starting point. If you don't know what I mean, then I recommend you come out to a "Lab Monday" so's we can chat.
Even though hydros are good for 'set it n ferget it" they are still decent indicators for valve train wear.
Once you have done a few valve adjustments you will find it is no harder than spark plug changing and it may become part of your tune up procedure.
Once you set them at 1 1/2 to 2 turns in you can check them later (say 500-1000 miles) by counting how may turns it takes to get them back to the starting point. If you don't know what I mean, then I recommend you come out to a "Lab Monday" so's we can chat.
Even though hydros are good for 'set it n ferget it" they are still decent indicators for valve train wear.
Once you have done a few valve adjustments you will find it is no harder than spark plug changing and it may become part of your tune up procedure.
So it all started when I wanted to get better gas mileage....
- bretski
- Ellipsis-Meister
- Location: out of hibernation...for now
- Status: Offline
Gypsie, Gypsie, Gypsie....tsk. "Set it n ferget it" has no place in the ACVW lexicon, neither solids or nor hydros.Gypsie wrote:Even though hydros are good for 'set it n ferget it" they are still decent indicators for valve train wear.
I know the good-natured place you're coming from, and I know you'll show Trotsky how easy it is to adjust hydraulic valves once he joins you all for a pint and rap at the Lab. I just don't want somebody to come upon this thread at a later date and read it as a perpetuation of the myth that hydraulic valves don't need regular adjustment.
Hugs and kisses from frozen Colorado,
-B
1978 Deluxe Westfalia - "Klaus"
"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio
"transcripts are overrated. hardware store receipts: those are useful." --skin daddio
- Bleyseng
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Seattle again
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
I don't even like the idea of fixing just one head. Unless they are fairly low mile heads that just one plug got stripped out, I would take em both in. Unless you are totally cash strapped....
Geoff
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/
77 Sage Green Westy- CS 2.0L-160,000 miles
70 Ghia vert, black, stock 1600SP,- 139,000 miles,
76 914 2.1L-Nepal Orange- 160,000+ miles
http://bleysengaway.blogspot.com/
- Gypsie
- rusty aircooled mekanich
- Location: Treadin' Lightly under the Clear Blue!
- Status: Offline
Yes. Agreed. Duly noted. thank you sir may I have another..bretski wrote: Gypsie, Gypsie, Gypsie....tsk. "Set it n ferget it" has no place in the ACVW lexicon, neither solids or nor hydros.
What I should have said was:
Even though hydros are purportedly good for 'set it n ferget it" they are still decent indicators for valve train wear and should be checked regularly.
So it all started when I wanted to get better gas mileage....