Thanks to all that chimed in, I'm pretty sure I tried just about everything
that was suggested. This morning I installed a spare cat/muffler unit with
the cat hollowed out. I figured at worst case I at least wouldn't have the
limited exhaust flow to help bog me down. And for the most part it didn't on
my way to work. But it still wasn't running right. So at lunch time I
started up the Vanagon and one by one did it with a different spark plug
wire disconnected each time and low and behold the last one I tried had no
effect on the way it was previously running. I had a spare coil to
distributor cap wire and it was long enough for me to rig it to the #4
cylinder and it sounded so nice, purr-fect. So it ended up being a faulty
spark plug wire. I have to admit it has been a while since I changed them
but when everything is running so fine the last thing on my mind is to mess
around with the setup under the lid. I bought a new set of wires from
AutoZone on the way home, swapped them all out and life is good again. Now I
need to figure out if my stuffed cat is still good, actually two of them. I
should have done the hollowed out one the first time I changed the exhaust
but hind site is 20/20.
Thanks again to everyone, now I can finish up the stuff on my work truck and
stop using the Vanagon as a daily driver. I have to admit for a 26 year old
rig it's holding it's own, heck NOW it's probably running better than most
older vehicles on the road. But of course I'm a bit biased.
Good night,
Paul