Eliseo,

        My '85 did the same thing.  I replaced everything in the cooling
system from the water pump to the radiator, before determining that I
had a blown compression cylinder ring (head gasket). It was small enough
that I could see no mixing of oil or coolant.  What seemed to be
happening is after a thirty min. drive I would introduce enough gasses
into the coolant system that I didn't get enough flow through the
radiator.  Secondly I was over pressurizing the system and coolant was
pushed out of the reservoir and into the expansion tank, not to be
sucked back when cool.  You might try driving around with your front
grill off and a 13 mm wrench with you.  As you get to wherever, open up
that bleed screw, mine hissed out six or seven seconds of gases before
coolant started to flow.  I hope its something easy like the thermostat,
because pulling the heads was not fun. Good luck

Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From: eliseo escobedo [mailto:eliseolee@HOTMAIL.COM] 
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 2:27 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 85 vanagon 1.9 gl

My 85 vanagon  is still overheating I can drive it for 20 miles then it
runs
hot. so I took the thermostate ot and still runing hot

Eliseo Lee Escobedo