Kris,
As the proud owner of 5 or 6 VW over the years, my guess would be the fuel
pickup at the bottom of the tank.  I had an '82 diesel rabbit pickup that
acted the same way.  One day it just became impossible to start, and would
stall when driving down the road.  I replaced the filter, checked the
glow-plugs, pump timing, etc. and couldn't fix the problem.  Then I pulled
the fuel line out of the tank and the little screen that VW installed over
the end of the pick-up was filled with fuel tank crud.  Cleaned it out and
no more problemo!
Let me know if that solves your problem.
Mark Thoma
-----Original Message-----
From: Kristopher B. <krisbee@I-2000.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, August 20, 1998 2:07 PM
Subject: 82 Diesel Westy Problem

>Hello all.. recently it has been very difficult to start my 82 diesel..
>I have to pump at the gas ferociously for it to finally catch, and this
>process can take up to 20 seconds or more... It's a new battery, I am
>using the choke, the glow plugs are warmed..
>
>Here is another real problem... when I go downhill, if I don't have the
>foot on the gas and reving high, my westy will stall out, and I will
>have to wait a few seconds and try to start her again.. also, it will
>take some time to get her going back to normal..
>
>There must be a problem somewhere in my fuel setup here.  Its a new gas
>filter, I think the injectors are clean.  Air in the line?
>
>Thanks in Advance... Kris
>--
>http://www.i2.i-2000.com/~krisbee
>