I can give you reliable information.

first ..if you do a 'cheater' Single Belt Conversion like that ..the
drive ratio to the water pump will be too slow for very good coolant
flow.  It 'might' work in mild conditions. but not reliably long term.

it has to be either ...
the stock two belts with shims nightmare setup,
or ...
a proper Single Belt Conversion ..
the only w. pump pulley I have ever found with the right smaller
diameter and correct offset is one that fits the far more common 'small
hub' water pump ...like used on millions of gas and diesel jetta/golfs etc.

to do that requires using the later water pump  ( 85 diesel rabbit/golf
will work )
and the right pulley.
The only ones I can get are new OE ...fairly expensive ....70ish.

try the cheater single belt conversion..
but it can't work very well really. Perhaps if conditions are cool and
you run on the level a lot.
Otherwise ...won't cut it.

I've seen a  few of diesel vanagons with this hack conversion , with
overheating problems..
and numerous shops did not catch that the pulley ratio was incorrect.

seem so obvious to me.
It's important to have the right impeller style too ....it should look
like a volcano ..a swirly one, in plastic or cast iron.
Also ..
check that the water pump housing is not badly pitted or corroded at the
impeller face.
That happens too.
Plus ..the all metal 82  diesel vanagon radiator does not remove heat
very well compared to the 83 and later radiators.
that's another cooling system upgrade to do to an 82 DV.

thanks for saying what year DV you have.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

On 9/28/2012 8:27 PM, Dana Mueller wrote:
> Howdy Again Folks,
>
> My vw came with no belts attached to the water pump, crank, and
> alternator. This is a stock diesel engine. Seems I have two options,
> two sets of belts or a really long 10x1000 to cover the 3 pulleys. Is
> that valid?  Having a hard time finding concrete information. I do
> currently have two belts on hand; one from water pump to alternator
> and one from crank to water pump. Suggested configuration?
>
> -dm
>