In a message dated 98-08-16 22:14:38 EDT, Route87@AOL.COM writes:

> Couple more ?s-
>  Can i get an aftermarket air cleaner,  what the ycost

Yes.  K & N makes an excellent re-useable air filters.
Check:
Performance International
696 W. 18th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Bob Franzke
Managing Director
EMAIL:  performanceintl@virtualrep.com
WEB:  http://www.performanceintl.com
FAX: 949-642-3923 (USA)

They cost about $30.
K&N model E-2475, $27.42 infact.
Buy the additional filter oil to spray on the filter after washing it out
periodically.
Called a "Filter Service Kit", costs $7.95.

>& how do you open the
>  air cleaner? I took off the top but there's more to get into!

First, you remove the air filter housing.
To do this, undo the two hose clamps at the filter's intake and exit.
Then, remove the plug of wires on the front side (the side nearest the front
of the van) of the filter housing.
Then, undo the clasp on the top of the housing.
Now, just lift the housing out.
Additional clasps are now undone to remove the top and access the filter.

>   Oh is doing an oil change as easy as it is on a 71 bus? I never changed an
>  oil filter either. I might be heading to Laughlin( 250-300 mile trip in HOT
>  desert) and I wanna get something done to the engine.

Pretty easy.  Access to the filter is good.  I'd recomment the type of
"socket" style filter wrench that attaches to a ratchet extension and grabs
the bottom end of the oil filter like a big socket would.  To aid in
installing the new oil, I prefer a long (16") tapered funnel that I can stick
right into the filler spout.  These typically have about a 4"-5" diameter big
end and a 1/2" diameter small end.  I've cut of a couple inches off the small
end to make it pour faster out of about a 1" diameter hole. I have also heated
the center section with a hair and bent it about 20 degrees or so, so that the
big end of the funnel can point "up" a bit more and make pouring easier.

The only other BIG THING about oil changes in a Vanagon is:
DON'T OVERTIGHTEN THE DRAIN PLUG.
It doesn't need to hold a suspension bridge together, just keep the oil from
leaking out.  Many have overtightened and STRIPPED the threads on these.
Stripped threads is not a good thing.

Good luck,
Jim Davis