This is my first posting to the list.  I just bought an 84  vanagon.  I have
lots of questions.  I used to have a 1975 Combi Van  in Mexico.  I had it for
2 years and sold it in 1999 when I moved back to  the US.  I was looking for a
VW bus.  After checking out 2 vans with  considerable rust, I found this
brown one which is very nice.  Obviously,  it has been shown much care and has
been garaged.  I see that the vanagon  is a little different from my 1975 white
combi one in Mexico.  The one  in Mexico was not a walk-thru and had the full
bench seat up front.  So far  it seems pretty reliable.  The woman I bought it
from said that everything  was fine except for a transmission leak.  I've been
checking the fluid and  have added only a half quart in the past 18 days
since I bought the van.   The fluid was an inch over the full line when I first
checked it so she must  have overfilled it before she sold it to me.  The van
came with The  Official Factory Repair Manual-1980-1991; this book has alot of
good  information.
The woman I bought the van from had it for a few months.  She bought  it from
a guy, I'm not sure if he was the original owner.  This is what his  for sale
ad said:
clear title
drives great
starts every time
doesn't use oil or water
don't have to add oil between oil changes
all lights work
no ac
good dual heat
automatic
can haul anything
new front tires
front rotors
front brake pads
calipers and hoses
upper and lower ball joints
all exhaust pipes in 2003
rebuilt trans in 1999 installed
pioneer stereo 4X50 watt
4 new speakers
repair manual
all receipts
She also put in a new battery and all new hoses.

These are my questions:
1.  How do I know if the van rests too high (it's not a syncro) and is  this
a problem?
2.  It's missing the passenger side rear view mirror.  I've seen  them on bus
depot.  When I install it, do I need to remove the door panel  or can I just
screw it on?  Where can I get a mirror for a better price  than bus depot
(shipping etc.)?
3.  They sell a convex mirror, is it best to buy the regular one and  get the
blind spot mirrors?  Which blind spot mirrors are best?
4.  I added some coolant to the main tank and the reserve.  How  do I know
that the cooling system has no leaks?
5.  Do I need to use special coolant?  I've heard that the orange  one has
good anti-corrosive properties; what is the name of the orange  one?  Does it
come in 50/50 ready to use; I'm in Florida (tropical  climate), do I need a
special mix?  If I decide to use the orange stuff,  how do I drain the old coolant
and put the orange stuff in; do I need to drain  it?
6.  The gauge on top of the clock/fuel gauge, I think it's the coolant  level
gauge or temp gauge; it registers zero most of the time, then every 5
minutes or so at random, the red light blinks while the pointer goes from zero  to
max then back down again; is the gauge malfunctioning?
7.  I have a plastic main tank for the coolant/anti-freeze, I've  noticed a
surface crack in the plastic near the sensor wires that go into the  top of the
tank; I'm not sure if the crack is just cosmetic or if air/water  vapor can
escape; I've also noticed fluid collection around the sensor wires  that go
into the top of the tank; not sure if that water comes from the crack;  do I need
to patch the tank?  Does this relate to my coolant level gauge  problem?
8.  The guy had a platform built in the back with a foam bed on  top.  The
bed is over the engine and extends over a built in storage chest  with velcro.
In the middle is carpet, no seats.  Under the foam bed  is a piece of carpet.
The carpet is old and sheds plastic "dirt".  Do  I need to replace the carpet
under the bed?  What is best to replace it  with?  What should I use to
protect the foam bed?  What is good to use  to put over the carpet for protection
when walking around the center of the  vanagon?  Never say van, always vanagon,
right?
9.  Do I need to undercoat the van?  I live 3 blocks from the  beach; is a
fresh water wash once a week enough?  The vanagon came from the  Orlando area,
which is not close to the beach, so this is the first time the van  will be
exposed to ocean air.
10.  The woman said the van would sometimes have trouble starting and  that
the starter may need to be replaced.  After starting it 40 times in  one day,
she said she had to let it cool down then it would start.  I have  not
encountered any starting problems so far.  How do I know if it needs a  new starter?
How do I know if my starting sounds and quality are up to  par?
11.  When checking the transmission fluid, I run the van and heat it  up, 6
miles, etc.  Then I put it in neutral and check the fluid,  right?  Of course,
by mistake one time I forgot to take the parking brake  off and drove with the
parking brake engaged.  Now the parking brake works  but you have to pull it
all the way up.  I'm not sure if you had to pull it  all the way up before I
drove with it on.  Did I mess up the parking brake  by driving with it on?  Do
I need to re-adjust the parking brake?  I  learned the hard way on that one.
Also did the 6'8" clearance in the  indoor parking garage already!  Luckily I
only got some surface scratches  on the roof; hope they don't rust.
12.  One of the sliding windows had trouble locking.  The rubber  molding
close to the unlocking mechanism was folded in and obstructing the  closure of
the window.  I just lift and push the window and it locks.   Should I glue down
the molding and how do I repair this?  Also, lots of  rubber molding need to
be glued down.  Around the engine seal under the  hood some of the molding is
flapping.  Around the rear door by the lock,  etc.
13.  I've noticed that when driving hot air comes out by my  feet.  How do I
adjust the AC?  Is it good to blow hot air off the  engine with the vents to
aid engine cooling?  Should I redirect some  vents?   I probably wont need much
heat in south Florida in  summertime.
14.  What should I keep my tire pressure at?  Tires are:   Firestone FR380
P205/75R14 TLWS PS?  Inside the door says 36 front 48 back  but my Firestone
have a 44 max PSI.  Also these tires are not the same as  the
"standard/recommended" tire size on the inside of the door.
15.  I got seat covers, they fit but the arm rests stick out over the
covers.  Is it best to cut holes in the covers; remove and replace the arm  rests;
or just let the covers stretch around the arm rests?  I really like  the
graphic on the seat covers, it's called Aztec and has a Mayan guy decorating  the
cover.
16.  How do I lubricate the sliding door?  I had door problems  with my 1975
Combi van, so I'm sensitive to these doors.  What is the  correct way to open
and close?  Do I need to use both hands, etc.?   What is the right motion?
What is best to use to lubricate the  doors?  Do I need to wipe out any grime
before lubricating?
17.  Do I use regular 87, mid-grade 89 or super 93 octane in my  vanagon?  I
put a tank of super in when I first bought it, now I use 89, is  this okay?
18.  She gave me lots of parts with the van, such as a fuel filter,  some
wires, lots of window roll down handles, spark plugs, a belt, assorted  fuses,
fuel additive, transmission fluid galore, two funnels, two buckets,  a drink
holder/cd/change holder,  etc.  What should I do with all this  stuff?
19.  Do I need to check the radiator in the front of the van?
20.  What is the best way to hang surfboards from the ceiling in the  inside
of the van?
21.  There is no front license plate holder.  If I want to  install a
decorative front plate, do I need a front license plate holder?   Do I just screw it
into the existing holes without a holder?  The holes  look very small with a
clear plastic inside, are these stock?  There are  also larger holes, are these
for the holder that I'm missing?  Should I  just scrap the front license
plate idea, it's just for looks anyway?   Florida only requires a rear license
plate.
22.  My other vehicle is a 1995 Honda del sol, the vanagon is much  better
for surf trips and for transporting my bicycles.  I can get three  surfboards on
top of my del sol, but it takes alot of time to strap them on  safely and
then remove them.  Any ideas about how to make the vanagon  better equipped to be
my surf mobile?

Thanks.

Eric