I haven't written the 1.9 wbxr troubleshooting manual yet.
Probably I'd check the fuel pressure just to be sure.
one 1.9 that would drop down to only being able to go at idle speed..
and intermittently of course..
driving the fp gauge on it showed fuel pressure dropping way off when it did
it..

that was pump/filter/water in the gas.

that's only one pathway of course - that could be causing the extra low
power and won't rev out right.
won't hurt to measure resistance of Temp Sensor II...

and ...clogged muffler is rare but possible ( do the remove the 02 sensor
test for that too ) .
one time..
had  a car that was loosing and loosing power on a freeway hill..
just kept shifting down and keeping my foot it in ..
got down to about 20mph in first ..
suddenly , KA-BOOOM ! ....huge cloud of smoke .
car took off like a rocket.
Muffler had clogged ....the continued pressure I kept on it caused it to
blow a 4 inch diameter hole  in the side....just pealed the metal back flat
against the muffler ..the 'explosion' was so strong.

rare ..but possible - clogged muff.
try with 02 sensor removed.
not disconnected, removed.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Lincoln" <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 6:14 PM
Subject: Re: '85 gl 1.9 manual - bogging out - no power over 2nd gear

> Ok so I'm an idot OK - the darn bus doesn't have a cat on it - I forgot.
> So
> any other ideas?
>
>
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '85 GL (Gertie)
> '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus