Jeff, congrats on the find.  I have had this type of thing happen to me
several times.  People call me, tell me their van has a major problem
and they just want to get rid of it.  I buy it and find that it is
something very minor.  Two times it has been overfilling with oil
causing the spark plugs to foul.  Clean set of plugs and an oil change
later both vans are purring like kittens.  There are good sides and bad
sides to all of the Vanagon info out there.  Most of the times it helps
folks figure out their problem and get back on the road.  Occasionally
it causes them to over react and get rid of a van that there really
isn't anything major wrong with just because "These vans always have
head gasket problems, I read it on line."

The lesson here for owners, just like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy says in big red letters on it's cover, "DON'T PANIC"

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

VW Doka wrote:
> I finally got around to checking out my latest purchase... a 1990
> Vanagon GL with 121k original miles.  Here's a pic:
>
> http://s1000.photobucket.com/albums/af130/schwaia/?action=view&current=dpo.jpg
>
>
> Seller listed it as needing head gaskets.  He based this diagnoses on
> the fact it ran on 3 cylinders, smoked and overheated.
>
>
> Poor running... plug wire for #2 cylinder was bad.  Replaced the wire
> with a good used one and she purred like a kitten.
>
> Smoking... went away after about 20 minutes of running.  Lots of
> unburned fuel in the exhaust from the bad plug wire.  Probably needs a
> new cat now.
>
> Overheating... expansion tank cap was shot.  Put a good used cap on
> and she runs nice and cool now.
>
>
> I've put about 150 miles on her since I've sorted it out.  Runs great,
> lots of power, doesn't use any water and runs cool, even on a 90
> degree day.
>
>
> What can I say, sometimes a DPO is a good thing!
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>