> > Also, this van has two interior handles - a second one just like the
> > main
> > interior one is mounted at the rear of the door onto a square post which
> > does not turn. Is this normal?

Shawn,
Yes, the second handle at the rear is stock.
My American 82 diesel westy had two interior handles.  One at the front and
on at rear

You know how the sliding door on your 82 is much harder to close than your
88, I guess you are supposed to use the second handle on the 82 to pull the
door inward to engage the latch.  Otherwise you have to have to 'take a run
at it' to close the door.
If I recall, I removed a spring on my 82 to make the door easier to close.
However the door did not instantly unlatch when you opened it, you sometimes
had to push the rear out.  Of the two annoyances, I preferred the later.
VW changed the sliding door latch at the rear for the 1986 model year.  From
then on the door is much easier to close.

Gary Lee
Calgary, Canada
gary2a@telus.net
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/vw.htm