I'll respond to your first question, because that is the extent of my
limited experience.

Both of the studs that mount the bottom of the alternator bracket broke of
on my 85 Westy as well.  I wonder if this is a frequently encountered
problem?   In my case, I was able to get on one of the broken studs with a
vice grips and unscrew it from the block.  The other was broken off inside
the block, and I would have needed an easy out to remove it, which would
have necessitated dropping the engine (which I was not prepared to do).  So
I remounted the alternator with just one lower stud and the bolt on the top
that is used for tension adjustment.  So far (3,500 miles later) it seems to
be holding, but I check it frequently.

Dave in KC
85 Westy

----- Original Message -----
From: Deborah Walters <debbwa@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 1:27 PM
Subject: alternator posts, dip stick tube, OXS

> Here's a three in one post!  Everything hits at the same time, right? And
in
> addition to the problems below, I also had to replace my clutch slave
> cylinder last week!
>
> #1  The bolts at the bottom of the alternator that apparently are posts
> coming out of the engine block broke off.  Has anybody successfully
removed
> the ends of the posts that are left in the engine block and replaced them
> without dropping the engine?
>
>
> deb
> '85 Westy "Gypsy"