Your thermostat is broken and you need a new one.  It looks like TypeIV
thermostats are pretty much NLA, though I've read that TypeI thermostats can
be modified to work.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
---------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Skip Emmert-Keaton" <skip@SKIPEMMERT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 8:33 AM
Subject: 1980 Thermostat

> Hey, Gang.
>
> I noticed the thermostat on my 1980 air-cooled Westy was fully expanded on
a
> cold engine.  The ambient temperature was about 70 degrees.  When the
> thermostat is contracted (what I would think would be the normal cool
state)
> it closes the air ducts and lets the engine warm.  Then the thermostat
> expands and allows the ducts to open.  At what temperature should a
> thermostat contract/expand? Do I likely have a bad thermostat here?  I'm
> currently replacing the cooling tins after some engine work so I need to
be
> able to adjust the thermostat.  The only directions I have are for a cool,
> contracted thermostat.  If my thermostat is OK, how do I adjust the
> thermostat properly when it is expanded?  Please cc my email address
> directly with any thoughts.
>
>
> Thanks for any suggestions,
> Skip Emmert-Keaton