I finally got my 84 GL last night.  My wife took me down to get it and
she followed me home.  Driving home, I noticed I was having a little
trouble shifting into 4th- it would pop into 2nd instead.  I'd clutch it
again and it would go into 4th.  I figured it was my shifting and that
I'd get used to it.

After we got home, we piled into the GL along with the dogs and set off
for a Taco Bell.  A mile from the house, I stopped at a stop sign and
then accelerated gingerly up to 3rd.  Wouldn't go into 3rd.  Clutched
again and tried 3rd.  It tried mightily to go into 3rd and I decided I'd
help it a little.  I clutched one more time and this time it started to
grind.  I figured it was just being ornery.  As it was grinding, nudged
it a little more to go into 3rd.  This time, there was a loud pop and a
sound like something ripping and suddenly it shifted into 3rd.  However,
I could also shift into any other gear without using the clutch.  I
stopped the van- then pushed to the side of the road.

I called AAA and they came out and hauled to the guy I bought it from-
Grand Mesa Imports in Delta, CO.  He had rebuilt the engine (gave me 6
month warrantee on it) and checked everything out.  This morning, I
called him, told him what happened and he said he look at it.

After work, I stopped by and he said the van was done.  The clutch had
totally disintegrated!  He showed me the pieces- yes, the pieces.!  I
picked up the van again tonight (no pun intended) and it is running just
fine!

How's that for a story?

84 GL  178,306 miles (odometer stuck)
86 Jetta GL 273,946 miles (odometer stuck)
65 Chevy PU miles unknown, Big Black