YOU WROTE :

 Hi List,
>         I have been looking at my aux heater on my 82 westy and it
> seems to work fine except that it puts out smoke along with the
> heat. I was thinking theres a seal somewhere thats missing
> although i didn't see anything missing when i took it out to clean it.
> I've looked in the bentley which i find most unhelpful, and i've also
> looked in the archives and the westy owners web site. If anyone
> could give me some info on my problem and the heater or point me
> in the right direction it would be most helpful.
>
> Thanks,
> Phil Burton
> 82 westy
> 76 westy
> 71 super & square
> 66 beetle

JUST to drop a note on the GAS HEATER issue is that there are a few
shops that specialize in them advertised in VW PUBLICATIONS and that vw
things/early type II/ and many canadien vw's run gas heaters (my 82
diesel has a diesel heater) and some manuals are available .  But back
to the issue is that for my Thing I researched awhile back that in
G.A.S.S there were a few posts that helped , if memory serves that there
is a replacement T-STAT , IGN(aka points) , & THERMO COUPLE? (type
device?) I will try to find my past issues of GASS for referance but are
still packed from a relocation to a larger garage (read: 1 1/2 to a
30x50 concrete barn!!! WE-HA now I'm a redneck and love it !)  But
enough rambling the jist is you or me to check with GASS for modern
replacments  ( if I remember the T-stat was electronic w/clock and timer
great for camping)
good luck and I'll check into it soon
Daniel Stevens
Operations Specialist