Don Gibbons answers to my questions are below. 

Thanks Don, I appreciate the info on the head gaskets. While the air 
conditioner is wonderful, I have been careful to turn it down or off if 
the temperature gauge moves above the indicator light. I have even turned 
the heater on when I was in bumper to bumper traffic to keep the temp 
indicator near the light and not above it. Am I being too cautious? The 
fellow I bought it from recommended doing this to keep it cool. 

Thanks again. 

>=8C91 Vanagon GL Westfalia
>======== Fwd by: Don Gibbons ========
>Hi, welcome to the list.
>1. I may have started this thread about hi temps and head gasket problems.
>The water jacket gasket is made of a rubberlike material and as such will go
>bad the higher temp it is exposed to. Anything that keeps the gasket temp
>down will make it last longer. I sugested a coolant re-circulation pump as
>are on some recent VW's. Other then changing the coolant and making sure
>that it does not get low there is nothing that can be done to help gasket
>life (short of getting the gasket temp down)
>
>2. Only a little high. If you walked into a VW dealer and asked that the
>entire system from heads to tail pipe be replaced the bill would come to
>three digits (yes maybe $3,000) All is not so dim. The after market has all
>parts at a fraction of the dealer price. I did my syncro (most of the parts)
>for less then $600. But keep in mind that the factory parts are very good
>and last a long time
>
>3. The best site is the list and its archives.
>
>4. I had a 82 that was not very good in the snow depending on how loaded it
>was. With empty it was OK. With a full load (lots in front) it was not very
>good. After that I had a 87 syncro (so maybe I am spoiled) with 4 snow tires
>that went thru anything. Studed tires are best in bad conditions and should
>get you thru most winters. 
>
>93 Eurovan MV
>87 syncro (sold)
>82 Vanagon ex-diesel (sold but still around)
>73 super.
>

Maureen Stretch
91 Vanagon GL Westfalia