Another '82 Vanagon diesel here. Fortunately, mine passed it's checkout after
the runaway incident, is trucking along happily, abeit slowly with nearly
2ooK on the clock (the speedo cable broke at 194K, and diesel speedo cables
don't exactly grow on trees). Admittedly, I swapped the valve cover and oil
pan gaskets, and the canshaft seal. I will need to do a brake job, and front
wheel bearings soon. Parking brake's still broken, and the fuel guare and t/s
LED have never worked due to a shorted dash wiring mat. But, it hits almost
immediately, every time. What more can I ask for?