HI..
did you search online .......like at discount auto parts or tool stores ? 
I'd think one can still buy a dwell/tach meter.  

you tried turning in the air bypass screw on the throttle body ? 
and you've checked very carefully for air intake leaks ? 

and there is a bit of free play in the throttle cable ? 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Rocket J Squirrel 
  To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans 
  Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 7:59 AM
  Subject: Re: Engine analyzer/tach recco?

       
  On Thu, 2011-03-24 at 00:16 -0700, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote: 
hi ...
not sure what you mean by 'engine analyzer ...
that used to mean a tach/dwell meter I believe.

you don't need a dwell meter with electronic ignition of course.
as for a tachometer...
if it's about adjusting idle rpm say ..
not really important to have I'd say.

  Thanks, Scott -- I wasn't sure what those tach/dwell meters were called, and didn't want to just write "tachometer" because folk might think I was looking for something to mount on the dash. 

  I have a digital tach which clips to the coil's green wire, but my recent (mis) adventure with surging idle got me irritated with it again. My old analog meter had no trouble tracking uneven idle, but this digital one can't keep up.

  In my electronics work, I use digital meters to measure voltages and currents which are not moving rapidly, but there are times when a good old electromechanical movement gives a better picture. Finding myself in that position here, I thought maybe tach/dwell meters were still available. 

  I gather they are not?

-- 
Rocky J Squirrel