> #1) Has anybody thought about fabricating a "scoop" around the passenger
> side breather, which leads right to the airbox? This would force quite a
bit
> of air in there, especially at highway speeds, and perhaps give a bit of a
> boost?

All you would have to do is seal off the carboard divider in the engine
compartment - the one around the air intake tube where it enters the
mysterious cavern on the right.  The air intake on the outside is so
positioned that it forces quite a bit of air into the engine compartment.
You could also fabricate a little spoiler to go behind the air intake as to
create even a higher pressure area over those black grilles.  This would
force even more air in there and force-feed your engine with cooler air.

> #2) Now, if you thought that's stupid, now I'm going to ask what the other
> side's breather is for? I don't see it going into the airbox, so, does the
> engine use this? Or is this just a heat exhaust, or is it just for
balanced
> decorative looks?

This are vestigial air intakes that served the almighty air-cooled motor in
the early Vanagons.  The left side intake keeps the engine compartment temps
down.

> #3) and now the warning. As it has been raining for last few weeks here in
> the Northeast, I've been doing interior work instead of exterior work.
> Pulling off the interior panel on the passenger side at the very back (in
> the "luggage" area, above the engine), there was WATER just sitting in
there
> trapped between the interior and exterior. Apparently, rain was coming in
> through the breather, and then leaking out into the area between the
panels.
> I guess there's a cracked seam or something. So, I'd say everyone should
> have a look, because that's one place rust can start forming without you
> ever seeing it until it's too late.

Thanks!  I'll check!