Larry Chase just stopped by, and I got a chance to see his AC installation and newly rebuilt engine.  I had to get over the shock of being able to look into the engine compartment and see the ground, something you can't do in my '81 Westy.  Anyway, I drove it, and it ran well.  I am comparing apples to kumquats here, since my own van is an '81 aircooled with a pretty stock AVP rebuild in it, and an auto tranny to boot, while he has a water cooled synchro stick.

Anyway, I found it to be smooth, and it had reasonable power.  It is probably a bit quicker than my '81, but not by a great deal.  I only drove it up to about 65, since I was in a 55 limit, and it cruised fine at that speed.

Overall, the van is in very nice shape, and with all the work Larry is having done, it will be really cherry by the time he leaves on his long journey.

Bill in the Southwest