Itinerant Air-Cooled

I bought some replacement tins for the Vanagon since the ones that came on it were rusted through and missing two of the four mounting points each... I am assuming that a couple of the mounts utilize the exhaust studs on the heads, correct? If so, am I asking for trouble by simply removing the appropriate nut and then reclamping once the tins are in place? In other words, is it bad practice to not use new gaskets once the original crush has been relieved?

For some reason I think it will be ok since I'd only be 'declamping' one side of the flange and not actually moving anything, just releasing the clamp and reapplying. All that hardware is new within 1000 miles so now's the time to do it, I figure, before it all gets corroded.

sped372 wrote:I bought some replacement tins for the Vanagon since the ones that came on it were rusted through and missing two of the four mounting points each... I am assuming that a couple of the mounts utilize the exhaust studs on the heads, correct? If so, am I asking for trouble by simply removing the appropriate nut and then reclamping once the tins are in place? In other words, is it bad practice to not use new gaskets once the original crush has been relieved?

For some reason I think it will be ok since I'd only be 'declamping' one side of the flange and not actually moving anything, just releasing the clamp and reapplying. All that hardware is new within 1000 miles so now's the time to do it, I figure, before it all gets corroded.

It'll be fine. If this was a coolant sealing gasket, you'd have trouble, but an air sealing gasket won't care so long as you get back to torque.
Colin

Interesting. Why is that? Vanagon/coolant-specific or any wetted gasket?

sped372 wrote:Interesting. Why is that? Vanagon/coolant-specific or any wetted gasket?

Any liquid barrier. Think of coolant entering a combustion chamber or oil pan. Bad. Air cooled, no such problems.
Colin

Ooh, you mean during the clamp loss. Hypothetically, though, it would also reseal fine after if nothing moved?

Was a bit confused at first, until I realized you were talking about a WATER-cooled Vanagon. I was pretty darn certain that none of the tins on my Vanagon bolted to the exhaust studs...

So, wassers have lower "tins"? Whatever for?

SlowLane wrote:Was a bit confused at first, until I realized you were talking about a WATER-cooled Vanagon. I was pretty darn certain that none of the tins on my Vanagon bolted to the exhaust studs...

So, wassers have lower "tins"? Whatever for?

Push rod tube protection. Do not underestimate the road debris strikes behind the rear tires.
Colin

Amskeptic wrote:

SlowLane wrote:Was a bit confused at first, until I realized you were talking about a WATER-cooled Vanagon. I was pretty darn certain that none of the tins on my Vanagon bolted to the exhaust studs...

So, wassers have lower "tins"? Whatever for?

Push rod tube protection. Do not underestimate the road debris strikes behind the rear tires.
Colin

I read a few opinions on TS stating they are unnecessary but I just knew that if I didn't put them in I'd regret it later, somehow, someplace very far from home. Anyway, got them in no sweat. Thanks for the tips.

I saw a Type 3 pull into a car show once blowing smoke, and thought "wow he must have some horsepower to spin the wheels like that!" before I saw the puddle of oil trailing from his push rod tubes. No protection...