Club 80-90 Forums

Well guys, after 3 years of sealing, it hapend.

See my post

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=150679" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Went to visit the in-laws, from South Wales to just outside Tawmorth.

Stopped at lest 5 times to keep topping coolant.

Just outside Tamworth, light on again, went to fill just outside the services. Coolant was flowing out from between the the cylinder heads. RAC got the call. Put some sealant in it, just enough to make it the extra 5 miles. 'It needs a new head gasket' the man said, we drove the van back to their house.

Now then, this is where it will get interesting.

My father in law has been phoning around this morn, but no one wants to touch it.

Does anyone have any recommendations in this area who fancies taking the job on?? There is no rush, but ideally would want it ready in 2 months??

Hope someone can help

Thanks for reading on Easter bank holiday (why does the break down happen at the worse possible time)

Thats my story...

Do you mean Tamworth near birmingham?
If you've been shoving in leak sealer for 3 years chances are the system will have a lot of crap in it. A replacement recon may be your best and cheapest option.

UNless it;s done less than 50-60,000 miles it will need a complete strip down as the mains and big ends will not be happy either. It is an engine out job really and the radiator and coolant pipes will need one heck of a good blast out as they will be full of crud. To do it yourself you are looking at £600 in parts and honing/measuring etc If you should need any expensive bits such as a camshaft or pistons/liners etc this could go up to £1000 for bits. At least if you do it that way you will know what went back in!!!! If you go for elite it will be built on a budget and some tolerances will not be as new but it will probably do 50,000 without too much bother unless you are unlucky. Some have gone the elite way and been very happy others have not.

Thanks for all advice, bottom end of engine is in good nic according to all mechanics who have worked on it. Been looking round today, bit to no avail as it is the wrong weekend! Does anyone know Garages who work on these near this area?

Can you, are you able to remove the engine yourself, easy enough on a VW.
Then you can have it couriered to a good place to change the head seal... (There's no head gasket as such on your engine).
Or just ask a local garage to remove it?

Mario isn't very far away, over Telford direction.

Just to say my engine ran great and to all purposes the bottom end was good but on closer inspection this was not the case, They seem to go very well until oops oil pressure suddenly falls. Rebuilding the top end puts extra stress on the bottom end and all of a sudden.!!!

Andrew at Campershack (linky here) can be relied on to do a re-seal gasket job properly.

It's where I would go if / when mine ever does this.

ghost123uk wrote:Andrew at Campershack (linky here) can be relied on to do a re-seal gasket job properly.

It's where I would go if / when mine ever does this.

I'd second that! But Andrew is a long way from Tamworth

Not too far for a pallet ship jobby though

Or you could buy a second hand engine and take your chance, same with a recon really, I think a vege from jk is 1700, elite at a guess 1000/1200 . engine shop 1400/1500 (at a guess).Good luck I think youl need it.

dbz864 wrote:Good luck I think you will need it.

Hey Adam, a re-seal is not the end of the world, well not usually anyway.
There are a few folk on here that have either done it themselves, or paid the likes of Campershack or T3volution etc to do it.
I think there are some other trading mechanics on here that can do it with reasonable confidence in the outcome, but they don't advertise the fact

I did one once, in my front room.

ghost123uk wrote:

dbz864 wrote:Good luck I think you will need it.

Hey Adam, a re-seal is not the end of the world, well not usually anyway.
There are a few folk on here that have either done it themselves, or paid the likes of Campershack or T3volution etc to do it.
I think there are some other trading mechanics on here that can do it with reasonable confidence in the outcome, but they don't advertise the fact

I did one once, in my front room.

Hi John id be interested to know how much an average re-seal costs per head. labour and parts. Perhaps a good little side line for someone .

Update folks.

The van will be recovered to Mr Shaw at Gasure.

£150 recovery from Tamworth to Chester, so if you see it on the road the next few days on the back of a loader make sure you wave.

It's been an expensive Easter, I also had to buy a run around to get home to South Wales. £400 for a 02 escort van. (its a wreck, but it got me back).

No doubt it's going to get more expensive. Mr Shaw, if your reading this go easy....


Thanks for all suggestions and will keep you all posted on how Crazyhorse gets on

Well well.

Crazyhorse returns.

Picked the van up from Gasure on Sat drove home with Mr Fritz old engine (and Stainless steel exhaust) and was a pleasure to drive. Saw loads of T25's heading north on the A49 on Sunday, sorry if i didnt wave, (mine was a really dirty maroon with a high top flying down south) couldnt believe I was back on the road and just had a big smile on my face. God I love that van. Feels ace to sitting pretty behind the wheel again, standing head and shoulders above the rest.

Some things are worth waiting for in between finding a suitable engine and getting Mr Shaw to fit it in.

God bless you both who combined have made the van a pleasure to drive again.

Happy days.... for the time being at least, I look forward to the next challenge of T25 ownership