I just got a few of these heavy duty air filters for the syncro Vanagon and I
was impressed with them.  Before I got them I wondered how the dealer could
get $150 for an air filter.  After I got them I found out why.  These things
are oblong in shape and remind me of an ice cream sandwhich.  The chocolate
cookie is replaced with some pretty thick gauge steel, and the icecream is
the heavily pleated air cleaner with a metal mesh covering it.  The thing
weighs about 5 pounds and has a thick neoprene seal on the bottom.  This
thing goes beyond heavy duty in my opinion.  You could stand on it and jump
up and down and you wouldn't even phase it.  What I want to know is why these
things are so heavy-duty?  I can see the extra surface area of the pleating
being helpful for filtering out extra dust for back-woods excersions but the
armor plating has got me baffled (no pun intended).  What could possibly
happen to your van that the air filter would need to be able to withstand a
compression load?  By the way I am selling these filters for $14 each.  These
are NOS dealer items and when they are gone, that could be it.
Just thought I would share.  If you don't have a syncro they make great
coffee cup holders, paper weights, or conversation starters for the coffee
table.  :)
Ken Wilford
Van-Again
John 3:16