I just returned from a camping trip to the Sierra's around Lake Tahoe and
south. I have an 82-diesel westy with a 1.9 TD.  When driving in the
mountains the temperature gauge was 2/3 when running at 55 MPH, its warmer
than I would like but I can live with it.  When I tried to climb (in second
gear) Monitor pass (8000 ft.) the temp gauge went to 7/8 and then the light
went on and the expansion tank blew its top and boiled water out.

I have two questions for this group who seem to know everything about these
vans.

Would putting in a radiator from a gas model 1983 or later improve the
diesels cooling and would it be adequate? While I was on the side of the
road on Monitor pass I saw a Vanagon that had climbed the pass coming down
from the other way, so I'm guessing that the water boxer cooling is adequate.

I need more power for climbing in the mountains, at 6000 to 8000 ft.; I
could only go 35 mph up some of the hills and was passed by a semi. I am
installing an intercooler. Short of installing a TDI is there anything I
can do to get more power or torque from this engine?

Any help would be appreciated from the respected and honored geniuses of
the group.

Gary