Huge thanks to everyone who responded to my questions! I've placed an
order for the manuals and started rounding up tools. The Vanagon goes in
today for an over-all check-up; hopefully, I'll be alerted if there's
anything really strange or monstrous that warrants attention. If there
is anyone out there who is a tad reticent about stepping up to publicly
claim mechanical ineptitude, E-mail me; I'll synopsize (new word? :-) )
for you.
--
Joan

"I am a kind of paranoid in reverse.
I suspect people of plotting to make me happy."
J.D. Salinger