> > I can find no reason as to why it would be overheating.  All engine
> tin
> > is in place.  The engine compartment seal is in place.  No crap in fan
> > or blocking the fan grille.  Timing is set below stock spec.  I'm not
> > driving it hard, brakes are in proper adjustment, etc etc.  What's
> > making it overheat, if not the advance and/or low compression?
> >
> >
> > Sean Bartnik
> > Johnson City, Tennessee
> > '81 Vanagon L Westfalia

At least one list member lost an engine to dirty cooling fins around
the heads/cylinders.  It's a pain to take off the tin and clean under
there, so it generally doesn't get done.  Might want to check it.

I don't think low compression will make it overheat that much...
my engine was down to something like 80-90-110-110 (in no particular
order) before I rebuilt it, and it didn't overheat.  Didn't pass smog
or other cars, but it didn't overheat, either.

Good luck!

        Gary

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Shea                                       shea@xmission.com
Salt Lake City                      http://www.xmission.com/~shea