[T2] Heater Boxes on '72 Riviera

[John Anderson]

Ian, having just noticed this, a couple of tips beyond those mentioned.  Make SURE your copper gaskets are annealed.  They should sound dull, not high pitched if dropped on say a granite counter.  If they don't sound dull, anneal them (google annealing copper head gaskets.)

Next, overdrill the mounting bolt holes on the boxes there at the head just a smidge.  Whatever is the next size over what will go, and it will take a good bit.  If you have access to a long enough belt (or monster drum) sander to hit both flanges at the same time, hit both (even on new boxes) to the belt sander holding em square on 36-40 grit belt to make sure they are in plane with each other.

Finally, a smidge of WURTH exhaust jointing compound on the coppers goes a long way to never leaking, but isn't strictly needed if the coppers are annealed and the flanges square.  And if you can find real copper or brass nuts for the head studs you will like it later.  Have a very close look at the studs and make sure they aren't loose in the heads, use a torque wrench when you install.  If they are in bad shape, fortunately if stock '72 heads they are just M8 studs not the M8/M9 which is getting harder to find.  And you can helicoil one in a pinch if they are the M8's and it will last a long, long time.

John


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On Mon, 10/21/13, Iain McLennon <capt.12string at comcast.net> wrote:

 Subject: [T2] Heater Boxes on '72 Riviera
 To: type2 at type2.com
 Date: Monday, October 21, 2013, 3:07 PM
 
 I have replaced heater boxes on a '69
 Beetle and '72 Super Beetle, but I'm
 currently faced with doing the same on a '72 Riviera Bay
 (totally different
 scenario).  Does anyone have any tips for things I
 should be aware of or
 things I should do while I'm doing this particular project?