> I have 3 general  Vanagon/Westy questions:
> 1. On my bi-annual exhaust pipe check, I noticed that the engine carrier
bar
> is bowed up in the middle as if it were used as an unsuccessful jacking
> point.  I don't remember it looking like that and the Bentley book doesn't
> show it clearly.  Does the carrier have an upward bend in the middle?

Yes, all that I have seen are that same way. Unless every one has been
jacked up?

> 2.  Most of the cabinet trim has become hard, brittle and rippled,
> especially the T-trim on the very back shelf. VW tells me they don't carry
> it, RV places I went to only had "oak-gold" trim - YUK!  Is there a
supplier
> of trim that anyone knows about?

I have had great success restoring this wrinkled trim on a few campers.
Here's how:
Carefully pry the offending trim from it's groove in the woodwork.
Heat some water in a large pot, then submerse the trim into the water, as
you would pasta. 'Cook' for about 5 minutes. Then take the trim and
carefully work it back into the groove, at the same time stretching it to
it's original length. If it does not seat in entirely, take a short piece of
flat wood (2X4) and lay it on the trim, and tap until the trim is fully
seated. Voila!

> 3.  Finally, my speedometer is acting erratically.  It usually does not
work
> until the van is going 40-60 Km/h and then jitters below 70, and fine
above
> that.  Has this been experienced by others?  Is the speedo hooped?  Does
it
> need lubrication?

Sounds like possibly a bad speedo 'head', or lack of lube. Not sure that
part is serviceable.
God luck!

Karl

>
> Thanks
>
> Jim Thomasson
> '85 Westfalia
> Calgary Canada