Hall sender unit was the culprit as many suggested.  But this failure
was different than most.  The connector was generally intact but the
ring under the trigger wheel had started cracking and hitting the
trigger wheel.  This caused the damage to the wires resulting in the
short.
Picked up a used distributor at the junkyard and she's running again!!.

But  now a NEW Problem.
Clack, clack, clack and a little bit of white smoke from the the
exhaust.  After a few minutes of idling water is dripping from the
tailpipe.
I figured on some lifter clacking after sitting for over a week but
this clack seems to be coming from the top side of the block rather
than down below where the lifters are.   Ran 4oz of Marvel Mystery Oil
but the clack is still there.
  I wouldn't be worried about the noise except the white smoke really
makes me uneasy.
Heads have been replaced and I haven't had any coolant loss.

Could I have messed something up during the few hours of trying to
crank it over when the Hall Sender was busted?

Thanks
Barrett Willet
'88 Wolfsburg...running well but loud

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Barrett Willet <barrettw@NVENTURE.COM>
> Date: September 5, 2005 11:22:56 AM PDT
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Won't Start...Again 2.1L
> Reply-To: Barrett Willet <barrettw@NVENTURE.COM>
>
> '88 2.1L
> More of the same this weekend.  Intermittent case of the "No-Starts".
> This is now the 3rd camping trip I've had to cancel because of the van.
> Friday morning it didn't start on the first 2 tries and then starts up.
>  Stopped to get gas and no problems with starting.  Trying to leave
> work that afternoon and it wouldn't start.
>
> It's cranking fine and the tach is moving to about 1000 when cranking.
> I believe this is an indicator that the Hall Sensor is working.  Can
> anyone confirm?
>
> It actually does catch but idles like its getting combustion only once
> a second. Blump,(1sec) blump,(1sec) blump.  Tach barely hops during
> this.  Does not get any better if I press the gas and eventually dies
> after about 10 sec.
>
> I'm stumped at this point and any help would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
> Barrett Willet
> '88 Wolfsburg
>