ooooh...poor van.
'just sitting' is so bad for any vehicle.

I think I would at least pull the spark plugs ..
and spray or insert some 'pre-lube' in the cylcinders ..
anything oily , wether spray or liquid.
if liquid.....like engine oil, just a spoonful or two .
then crank engine with plugs out and igntion diasabled ( just remove unplug
the onie black wire from terminal 15 at the coil ) ..
then crank it over for 20 seconds or so ..
that will swish the inserted oil around the rings and cylinders..
and cranking it will deveop some oil pressure before you go to start it too.

As soon as it's run a 20 minues or so ..
immediately change the oil and filter.  The condensation and moisture and
acids that build up in the oil 'just sitting' ....I hate to contemplate.
Then I'd immediately change all the brake fluid ..and the clutch hydrulic
system brake fluid too.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture out of the air ...just sitting even.
Eventually brake fluid with turn to thin black water ......it should be
changed every two years minimum.

and generally do a real 'service' on the   poor thing. Like say ..check all
the running lights.
There is no Tail Light Fairy that checks van owner's taillights while they
sleep ..
or that the spare tire isn't flat. I.e. ...there's no Spare Tire Fairy
either ..
'Someone' has to check all that stuff if you hope it to be really
roadworthy.

scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Higginbotham, David A." <dhigginbotham@HAZENANDSAWYER.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 7:58 AM
Subject: back on the road

Volks,

It has been several years since I lurked on the list and unfortunately it
has also been several years since I cranked my van. It has been sheltered
since 2006 and nothing special was done to it when it went in the shelter.
It has simply been sitting. To quote a Doc Watson tune, "life gets tedious
sometimes". So.... Other than the obvious battery charge/replace, what would
you folks advise I do to the thing before I try to crank it, if anything? It
is an 82 aircooled, stock, no engine mods.

Thanks,
David Higginbotham
82 Westfalia
Silk Hope, NC