"Should I cover the air vents? "
   Are you referring to the front fresh air vents?   If
so only if they leak excessively.  Definitely do not cover
the engine air vents.  This would infact restrict the
amount of air into the heater boxes.  You should make sure your
engine thermostat is working and adjusted properly.
    I would check the top of the fuel tank for leaks.
If leaking fuel soaks into the heater ducting and into the
vehicle.  Only problem with points is they were out.
Cold has no effect on them. After long highway drives
you will find you do not need the gas heater.  Plenty of
heat/air flow at highway speeds.
                                      Eric

aircooled chris wrote:

> Im looking at a drive from Minneapolis, MN to the west coast after the
> new year (prob Jan 2nd) and wondering about any specific winter problems
> I should be prepared for in trying this in an aircooled Vanagon (81) -
> outside of being cold myself anyway.
>
> Actually, I do have a BA6 underneath and the thing works like a charm
> right now that its only 35-40, not sure how well it will do when its
> colder than that.
>
> Should I cover the air vents?
>
> Its still points, no electronic ignition, any specific problems with
> that?
>
> Thanks for any tips, suggestions or other tomfoolery...
>
> airkooledchris
>
>