Thanks to all of your input - this solved the problem.

all right.
here's what you do :

1. fill the res.
2.  open one pipe nut...........there's two lines coming out of the MC  - 
deal with one at a time is what I recomend, or a bit back and forth, but 
only one per stoke.
3.  while the pipe nut is loose ( put a rag under it to catch fluid that 
will start coming out after a while ) ........stroke the pedal to the floor. 
( a medium steady stroke, not super slow, and not fast )
4.  tighen,  the pipe nut.  just medium tight for this process.
5. let the pedal back up.

do that twice for the first line.
then do it again for the other line.
as long as you have some fluid, even mixed with air,  coming out of each 
pipe while you stroke the pedal to the floor with a pipe nut open...........
then it is bench bled.
THEN you can bleed it out to the wheels.

and there are two main methods for that  ( not counting pressure bleeding or 
applying vaccuum ) .
one you can do by yourself, the other method takes takes two people.
let me know if you need me to tell you about those methods.
scott
turbovans

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "pete" <pete952@comcast.net>
To: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 4:58 PM
Subject: Re: Master Cylinder - Help!

> Thanks! How do I do it in place?
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
> To: "pete" <pete952@COMCAST.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 4:55 PM
> Subject: Re: Master Cylinder - Help!
>
>
>> you didn't bench bleed the master cylinder.
>> no master cylinder will move fluid  ( if new ) until it's been 'bench 
>> bled' either on the work bench, or on the van.
>>
>> btw. the vanaogon is about the only car or van there is in which you can 
>> bench bleed the master cylinder by yourself with it mounted in place.
>> scott
>> www.turbovans.com
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "pete" <pete952@COMCAST.NET>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 3:42 PM
>> Subject: Master Cylinder - Help!
>>
>>
>> 80 Westy - installed a rebuilt brake MC from a list vendor - the male 
>> from the servo and the female on the MC are mated. I fill the reservoir 
>> and pump the pedal - the reservoir stays at the same level and there is 
>> no brake resistance. Any ideas? Please?
>>
>> TIA
>>