Steve,

Sorry to read your tale of woe.

Interestingly, last year while driving the family to CA in my 86 Syncro, my
oil pressure light and buzzer went off at the exact same spot as you
described, just as I was pulling into the scenic viewpoint parking area.
Fortunately, it only turned out to be a case of 10w-40 oil with a Fram
filter.  This was remedied soon after and everything has been fine since
then.  Apparently that UT grade up from the Green River is somehow less
Vanagon friendly than the entire Rocky Mountains of CO.

Good luck on your salvage efforts.

Budd Premack
86 Syncro, 84 GL(for sale), 73 Super
Minneapolis, MN (Land of Sky Blue Waters)