OK, a report to those who directly replied to me regarding the oil pressure
switch R&R.  All of your replies were informative and absorbed.

Solution over the weekend:
1.  Remove the Alternator/WP Belt
2.  Purchase Craftsman 15/16" 12 Point (not 6 Point) Deep Socket.  This is
2.5" long as opposed to others that are 2.75 to 3" long.
3.  Purchase Craftsman 3/8" Drive Breaker Bar.
4.  Could not remove the Water Pump Pulley because there is no GOOD way to
lock the pulley without damaging the Water Pump IMHO.
5.  Slip the Socket onto the Breaker Bar and using "universal" position
nature of the Breaker Bar, snake it down between the two pulleys and onto
the oil switch.  It's still pretty tight as the heat shield is RIGHT THERE,
but the 1/4" difference in socket length made all the difference.  I picked
a 12 point socket because I knew I would have to periodically re-set the
position using a breaker bar whether loosening or tightening.  There is no
room for a ratchet unless the heat shield (1.9 style) is unbolted enough to
move it back or remove completely.
6.  Broke the switch loose and was able hand remove the switch.  In
addition, the threaded bushing the switch attaches to came out together with
the switch.
7.  Installation is the reverse of the above.

Note:  I inserted the threaded bushing into a vise to break loose and
reinstall the new switch, got a new 16mm ID crush washer for that from the
dealer (open on Sat!) and installed them as a unit, just as it came out.
Inspected the old switch and saw a slight crack in the plastic (probably
from age) next to the metal crimping of the switch.  For all I know, it was
original.

No More Leaking! :-)

Thanks again to all for their tips.
--
Jim Thompson
84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
oldvolkshome@gmail.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************************
On 4/20/07, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Remove the water pump pulley and use a breaker bar instead of a ratchet.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> >From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
> >Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Re: Oil Pressure Switch R&R
> >Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:21:43 EDT
> >
> >In a message dated 19/04/2007 2:55:12 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> >LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
> >
> >I can  usually perform most any repair on the venerable 1.9 or 2.1engine.
> >But  here's one where I've become stumped.  The "high side" oil  pressure
> >switch located just below the crank pulley and next to the oil  filter
> >mount
> >has developed a crack in the plastic and is producing a  consistent drip,
> >thus oiling up the backside of "Ole Putt".  How does  one access this
> >little
> >jewel and replace it with the engine in the  vehicle?  A 24mm deep socket
> >would be perfect except the heat shield  prevents the attachment of a
> >ratchet
> >to unscrew it off (and of course screw  the new one on).  Right now it
> >looks
> >like the cat and muffler would  have to be removed and the heat shield
> >removed to get the extra room, but  if anyone else has done this another
> >way,
> >I'm all ears.
> >
> >Because the  2.1 is installed in my 84 Westy, there is no "Dynamic Oil
> >Pressure Buzzer  System", so the switch just acts as a plug.  I would
> >probably replace  it with an appropriate length 10 x 1.0 threaded bolt
> >sealed
> >with teflon  tape.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Jim,  you should be able to use your 24mm socket with a ratchet or
> breaker
> >bar.   The trick is to bend the muffler heat shield a bit to get the
> >clearance.
> >  But, I see you have this 2.1 in a '84 unless you installed the heat
> >shield
> >from the 2.1 Van.  The heat shields are different so some  modification
> of
> >that ' 84's heat shield will be necessary.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >
> >Frank  Condelli
> >Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> >'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
> (_Collection
> >for sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
> >_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (
> http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> >- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
> >_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
> >(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> >_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
> >camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007