L shaped part serves no real function apart from needing to be
removed if you want to take out centre vent part.

the other thing you mention might be the cold start knob (adjusts
pump timing on diesel injector pump)

alistair

On 5-Dec-10, at 4:44 PM, Mark L. Hineline wrote:

My 1982 started life as a diesel. On the dash, there is an extra L-
shaped piece of vinyl and foam that surrounds the warm up cable (or
whatever that cable is). What purpose did that L-shaped piece serve?

Also, there's a fixture just to the left of the heater controls. In
other vans, that's where the control for the passager heat is, but
it's not a big rectangular opening, just a small round fixture of
unknown purpose.

Mark
1982 Westy