To check about the head leaks.  Sometimes you cannot see the as in my case
where it was all internal until I was rearended and all the coolant hit the
ground!!  I was told from the vw place that resealed my heads that it had been
leaking for 10-20k now thats awhile but there wasnt much pitting from it and I
have not had any problems since they've been resealed and its been over 40k.
Ask the previous owner how often they add coolant..if they are truthful this
could tell you that there is a leak.  When I bought mine I did not know
anything about vw's and I was told that he needed to add coolant about every
month or so because it would slowly go from max to min.  Aslo I think about
every 100k is the average for head leaks but some are as low as 80k or less!!

On the westy deal I'd say just make sure everything works and all your
seals/screens/westy gear is good.  There was a place in Reno Nevada that was
selling syncro westy's for 16k with resealed heads and a new water pump.  He
was flexible on the price.  He also had other westy for sale too....NO rust,
Resealed Heads, and a new water pump is good to have when buying a watercooled
vanagon also the it was VW shop that one of the list members goes to so you
know its a good shop=)....look into the archives for a email with a subject 8
westys for sale.

Hope that helped

Tim G
87 gl syncro (164k)