I've seen that tube on many 89+ syncros. 
I believe it became standard then. 

-craig

On Nov 20, 2013, at 8:33 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:

> My main motivation for installing this plate was to stop slush from freezing up on the shift linkage. It has happened to me a few times and makes shifting difficult. Some models, 16" syncros and 14" with the rough road package (European offering) had a tube protecting the linkage. My friend's 91 syncro has the tube so it was present on some NA models.
> Anyway, that tube protects things, but I thought that it would be just as easy to close in the entire space.
> 
> Alistair
> 
> 
> 
>> On Nov 20, 2013, at 4:21 PM, Tom Buese <tantonbz@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> 
>> "Belly Pans" were standard VW Bus features on earlier buses w/ either
>> skylight/walk thru & or double door options. The pans strengthened the body
>> to compensate for the rigidity removed in the roof & bulkhead/optional side
>> doors. They were welded in from the factory, & unlike Bell Industries
>> updated version, non removable, IIRC.
>> That I am sure increased the top speed considerably in a 36-53 hp bus!
>> 
>> YMMV,
>> 
>> Mr. BZ
>> 
>> 
>>> On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 7:08 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Nice Nice Nice. I am confident as I am sure you are that it will keep
>>> things clean under there. But what I want to know, and you will eventually
>>> find out, is what does it do to your top speed and gas mileage? Seems to me
>>> on a vanagon there is as much to gain cleaning up the airflow below as
>>> there is above.
>>> 
>>> Jim, who has been messing with boat bracketry lately and not Vanagons.
>>> 
>>> President, Felder Enterprises. Quality for the gentry, priced for the
>>> common man.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 5:35 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Mr Miller, I need to thank you for the nice welding equipment bearing
>>> your
>>>> name that was used to make the "bell belly belt".
>>>> 
>>>> I couldn't have cinched in my underparts without it :)
>>>> 
>>>> Alistair
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Nov 20, 2013, at 3:27 PM, Mike Miller <mwmiller6@att.net> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> The Bell Belly Belt?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Nov 20, 2013, at 3:14 PM, Alistair Bell wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> finally finished, mostly, the light underbody protection plate I
>>>> started some weeks ago. It is meant to protect the coolant lines, heater
>>>> lines, and the shift linkage from flying debris and build up of
>>> slush/ice.
>>>> It is not meant to protect against boulders :)
>>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/vanagon-syncro-more-underbody-protection-pretty-well-finished/
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> alistair
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Tom Buese