> I have an '80 air cooled Vanagon with about 80,000 miles on it.  It was
> bought from an older couple (first owners) who brought it here from Florida
> and basically garaged it for most its life.
>
> Being an air cooled is there anything you would recommend as maintenance
> around this mileage point.  I was thinking of yanking the heads and having
> the valves replaced as maintenance.  It was recommended to me by a local
> mechanic.
>
> Looking for your advice to keep this motor running well into the 150K range.

I got a little over 100K miles on my '81 before it started getting
"tired" and I replaced the motor.  This at 5000-10000' elevation and
lots of long pulls up passes.  It was clutch time, too.  If you are
near sea level, maybe yours will go longer.  If a heavy
Westy, maybe not.

Check the metal air ducting.  I had remains of a nest in some far
corner--and this on a vehicle that was a daily driver.

Also, check the thermostat and replace if it isn't working.  It
is an important piece of warming up quickly.  The original is
NLA but you can use the beetle version just fine.

Replace the FI hoses, down to the injectors.  Lots in the archives
about this, plus Ben Hoit has a great website about it:
http://www.benplace.com/

Check/replace the engine/body seal.  It is critical that this seal
work to keep hot air below from being sucked up and used as cooling
air.

                                Richard A Jones
                                Boulder, Colorado