I was looking at my company car's rotary climate control knobs this morning driving to my first jobsite, and thinking about this situation, also.  It's a '03 Ford Freestar, and these knobs appear to be like just about every other late model American vehicle.  
  Why couldn't someone 'pick-a-part' a complete heating/cooling/freshair plenum assembly and controls out of some other late model VW, and adapt that to fit a Vanagon, as opposed to trying to jury-rig the original Vanagon plenum?  Just a thought....

Mike B.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Raimund Feussner 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 2:35 PM
  Subject: Re: SA van images

  You�re not the only one having those projects.

  I have always been trying to figure out a way to realize an automatic
  A/C control like in modern Audis.
  This requires the possibility to mix cooled with heated air in one
  heater box.

  I already have a Vanagon�s heater box on my bench equipped with step
  motors for the different outlets.
  But I never figured a way to get the cooled ait INTO the box and mix it
  with the standard output of the heater core.

  Raimund
  BTW, the SA heater knobs are Audi 80/90 from �86-�94. Only the cable
  guide behind them is special SA.
  ....Andrew, got my mail? I want to delete soon...

  John Bange schrieb:
  > On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 8:14 AM, Daniel O Stevens <dosteven@syr.edu> wrote:
  >
  >
  >> MAN, I'd really like to get my mitts on some of those climate controls for
  >> our family of Vanagon campers.
  >>
  >>
  >
  > One of my many "imaginary projects to entertain on sick days" is an upgrade
  > to the stupid cable-driven flaps and valves on the Vanagon climate control
  > system. I have all sorts of web sites bookmarked for either vacuum or
  > electric powered 5/8" coolant flow valves and airflow diverter servos.  I'm
  > still looking for a control panel that'll fit. Haven't been to pick a part
  > lately. My most ridiculous notion on the subject has been to divert the AC
  > output to the SIDES, where the speakers are, then pipe it to the rearmost
  > body vent there above the windows, which would allow the cold air to come
  > out the regular front vents, like a "real car". Closing off the intake to
  > prevent outside air intrusion might be a nightmare though....
  >
  > --
  > John Bange
  >