From your description, I'd say it's a gas heater.  I don't know exactly
where they hide them on a Vanagon, that radiator cavity sounds like a good
place!

 Malcolm Stebbins <Malcolm.Stebbins@MSVU.CA> wrote

>I was out at the junk yard and they have 2 air-cooled vans in various stages
>of death.  One van had the front grill off and right behind the grill,
>centred at
>the top of the cavity (behind the grill) was an oblong canister (like a westy
>propane tank) but with fan rotors on the right (van) side.  I didn't take
>a close
>look at it, but does anyone know what it is???  Any body want it????