In a message dated 98-07-15 14:58:02 EDT, jeff@ELECTROPONICS.COM writes:

<<
 First off, I'm an idiot.
 I bought an overpriced (way) 85 Westy from a local dealer two months
 ago. She had 112,000 and is/was in excellent shape bodywise/interior.
 Well, the coolant light is now flashing for about 5 minutes till it
 heats up I guess, and then it is fine. I can smell coolant in the
 heater, too. I'm also getting some bad lifter? noise right after a
 highway run of about 10 miles. Then it slowly goes away. Is it the
 heads? If so, does anyone have a good solution or how to at least keep
 it where it's at for right now? I'm in St. Louis, and could use a good
 mechanic for her, too. We bought Brownie for a family trip next month,
 and I just assumed for that price, that she would be at least in decent
 mechanical shape. I'm afraid to go back to the dealer because I might
 strangle the salesman. Any help/advice would be appreciated. When I do
 go back, I want to be prepared.

 JW
  >>
Have the dealer replace the temp gauge ( they all go bad ), and replace the
lifters on that side of the motor, where it's noisey. The lifters are a simple
and quick job. You'll need a valve cover gasket, four lifters and four
collapsible pushrod tubes with the eight seals. I hope the dealer has a
vanagon tech/engineer.  Lets us know what happens.
Michael Modl, 87 syncro.