IIRC, it should have factory belts in back but I'd have to ask myself what
happened to them. In an accident? Kids get happy with the safety scissors?
Drunk friend decide that they just needed to go? If the van hasn't run into
something then I'd pay it no mind.

Sounds like the engine is might be marginal - maybe it's fine, maybe it'll
implode on you one day. Sounds better than the engine in my 90 - which has
run fine for a year now (knock on wood). What's the compression?

Personally, $1900 is more than I'd pay -- I'd rather offer the value of the
parts + a little profit. That way even if it did die I'd be able to get some
of the $$ back. Sounds like the PO didn't like it enough (or trust it
enough) to take it to CA. That should tell you something.

John
(who needs to sell a Vanagon, not buy another)