My family and I were 1,200 miles into a 1,500 mile vacation when our
'80 Westy (2.0 aircooled) begin to buck and kick.  It never died but we
couldn't get above 40 MPH.  It seemed to want to take off but would hesitate
.

I pulled over and found that the temp 2 sensor was loose so I tightened it
and
that didn't improve the engine performance.  I subsequently replaced the
sensor and it still bucks and hesitates.

Engine history:

bottom end rebuilt 30,000 miles ago (according to PO)
top end (P & Cs and heads) 5,000 miles ago (personally)

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

I did notice that the PO had replaced one of the distributor cap retaining
clips with some sort of metal band.  That allows the cap to have some free
play.  Could this be the problem?  Does anyone have an extra retaining clip?

Please help a fellow listee whose westy is stranded 300 miles from home (we
rented a car to get home and the van is at my parents home in Indiana)

Thanks for all your help past and present.

Gary

'80 westy (sick but not dead)