If you do want to look at what equipment your '86 has they are all
pretty easy to see (well you need a dental mirror or something similar
for one).

1) Condensor: Remove upper and lower grill (you may be able to get
away with just one but why not be thorough) check to see that your
condesnsor (the thing that looks like a radiator, but is mounted in
front of your actual radiator) is continous. Older (less powerful)
condensors have a break in them where the sheetmetal separates the
upper and lower grills.

2) Fan: Remove spare tire and look up under van. The part number on
your fan should be in plain view. Both are part number 251959455. The
more powerful fan has a M after the part number, the less powerful one
has a G

3) Evaporator: If you have the extended vents that run close to the
edge of where the ceiling breaks for teh upper bunk you have the
upgrade, if you have what looks like a standard overhead cabinet but
with an AC grille in front of it you have the less powerful unit.

4) Compressor: Open your engine cover, the compressor is the large
cylendrical motor on the drivers side. with a dental mirror (a small
mirror at the end of a stick) you should be able to read the part
number. In order of capacity from highest to lowest: SD510, SD709,
SD508.

Hope that helps,
Chris
 
On 7/12/05, Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
> Good info Chris....
> 
> My two Vanagons with AC are, in fact, an 86 Syncro (passenger) and a 91
> Westy Syncro. The 91 obviously has all the latest stuff. The 86 has had
> major work on its AC in the past (new evaporator for sure), so it is
> possible that it has many of the other upgraded components of later
> years as well (can't verify that right now).
> 
> 
> 
>