Club 80-90 Forums

Hi me and Kate are new and have just bought our first van, after 200 miles it overheated, we sensibly pulled over and called the AA out, the guy said the headgasket had gone on the left hand side, we were put on a low loader and taken home, we have taken it to quite a reputable garrage with the paperwork the AA guy gave us and were quoted £900 approximatly, they had the vehicle for a few days before giving us this quote, we had a call today to advise thwe cylinder heads were warped (is this normal) when the vehicle hadnt done loads of miles when overheating and also had coolant in the expansion tank, we are considering purchasing a recon engine (are they worth it) what would anyone consider a reasonable estimate to have it fitted by said garage.

we also need both the bottom skins of both sliding doors replacing or is it worth buying new doors instead, we quite like the sliding windows and are hoping to keep the vehicle as original as it already is, at the minute it only has the rock and roll bed and we dont need anything else really.

any advice, links or places we can get either a recon engine or cylinder heads for less than £400 each, we have checked all the main ones in the VW mags.

thanks

Darren & Kate

Sorry M8t cant really answer any of your questions as I dont know were you are in the UK????????? and secondly You dont say what engine you have fitted in the said T25 ------------------- As you get older I find you seem to lose you Houdini Skills.
Oh and welcome to the Mad House,
Also can you put a little bit more info in your Sig. ie Valid e-mail addy and a place or location were you are (Dosnt have to be a street or house No )just a City etc.

I see you have a diesel .. I have read that there is a cracked head issue with certain Codes.
There are good mechanics on here who fit diesels.
the doner is not always another van either

apologies guys I live in Darlington County Durham, the engine is a 1.9 watercooled petrol engine, we have a quote for 2 brand new cylinder heads not recon for £400 for the pair from a supplier in Spain my local garage use so hopefully job sorted

my direct e-mail address is dazpounder@hotmail.com

if you have any advice wehat to watch out for, again really appreciate it , really just want her on her feet for Bugjam not bothered abopuyt the looks at the minute just want her alive.

cheers

Daz

Hiya, welcome to the Club Do you have any comeback on the previous owner ?

3 Options are ...

1) Pay the garage to recon the existing engine at unknown and no-doubt growing cost with little if any guarantee

2) Gamble on a known good secondhand engine off a dismantler known to the club £500ish with no guarantee

3) Invest in a reconditioned engine from the likes of Elite VW with a 2 year guarantee £900ish

Ian.

Hi Ian, he did all the right things even told us it overheated but the garage had told him it was a dodgy sender unit, to be honest what we paid which for the van wasnt a lot we were willing to shell out a bit more anyway on the engine, I think the excitement of getting my first van ruled my head.

the garage are now going to replace the cylinder heads with brand new ones imported from a supplier he uses, £400 for both and all work guarenteed, I know he isnt trying to rip me off either, to be honest the doorskins and some rear cross member welding to pass its MOT isnt to bad so we can use the van then take her off the road in winter and strip her down and rebuild every nut and bolt.