Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 10:46:41 EST
Reply-To: Wolfvan88@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Lilley <Wolfvan88@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: VW Trends and Eurospec STILL LACK of power... Ignorance
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Eric,
Increasing the power of the stock VW T1, T4, Wasserboxer, Inline 4s or 5s or
6s or 8s engines has been going on for many years (Properly since the first
bug rolled out), Gene Berg, EMPI and MANY of the other early pioneers paved
the way for us today to have the ability to add power to the "stock" engine
MAKING MORE HORSEPOWER AND MAKING IT LIVE. It is has been done and is still
being done in America, Germany and in countries ALL OVER THE WORLD!
Just look at ALL the Power shops today for Air-cooled AND Water-cooled!
There are MANY, MANY reasons for wanting to change the stock engines: EGO (I
have what you do not have), Necessity (Racing in some form or fashion),
Pleasure (Like the feeling of going fast or getting there fast,
acceleration), Customization (WE like being unique and we like our vehicle
that way) and many other pick one...
The truth is while MOST stock engines are adequate some are not (Actually
they are all adequate, they usually get the job of moving from point A to
point B). Therefore many T1 owners STILL put in the stock 1600 56 HP engine,
While others opt for more power through hopping up the engine (look through
the latest VW mags and you will SEE both).
When hopping up an engine stock engine there are many ways to go about it.
It largely depends on the budget and the desired out come. From a few bolt
on exterior items to minor to major internal changes.
The saying goes:
SPEED COSTS MONEY, HOW FAST DO YOU WANT TO GO?
The T1 and T4 air-cooled engines, the Wasserboxer and inline VW engine are
often penalized by inadequate air flow through the engine. By the
restrictive intake system, restrictive exhaust, restrictive engine ports or
by all three.
A Stock 1600 T1 engine with a better intake-dual single throat carbs, free
flowing exhaust, mild cam, ports cleaned up in the head (not porting) can
easily add 20 HP (the right choice in cam can add @15HP alone) WITHOUT
affecting longevity.
Look at http://www.geneberg.com
He has built MANY HIGH HP 200+ engine that live on the street well past
100,000 miles...
Over the last 18 years I have tried many products that claim to increase the
power some have worked, while others did not. I had wrong combinations of
parts that did not work out like I was told by sales man.
I took my experience into the way I decided to approach the engine problems
for my Wasserboxer (WHICH ARE UNIQUE TO AMERICA, The corrosion problem does
not happen in GERMANY).
I choose an engine improvement path that many could follow (If they CHOOSE)
and there is room to still improve upon.
I do not believe for a second that my way is the ONLY way BUT I want others
to know that there is a CHOICE available to them, should they CHOOSE to
follow, other than simply throwing the engine away and putting in an inline,
that is FIXING the problems.
Many Vanagon drivers are happy with their engines, then there are those that
are not. Those that are not, WANT some kind of alternative to the engine
woes. Some are swapping the engines with other engines, While some do not,
they want a solution to the engine problems.
VW dropped the WBX because of the market and Costs to them, it was cheaper to
adapt the current front wheel drive Inline engine/drive train to the Eurovans
than the WBX. In SA the inline was cheaper than the WBX 6 cylinder. They
make more per car because the engines are CHEAPER to make. But that does not
make it the Best IMHO. Look at the HP ratings for the 2.5 engine.
What I have done is to try to provide an alternative to the swapping for
those that simply (for what ever reason) do not want to swap and want a
viable solution to the problem at hand.
If you disagree, so be it, But drop the name calling, it is beneath the list
members dignity, disagree on an adult level.
I present my technical points as to the reasons for the change, then respond
with the same technical points as to why it would not work or an alternative,
Not name calling.
As far as the hop up parts, time will tell, but MANY, MANY hoped up T1s AND
T4s are living a long life in the fast lane...
Engine life has more to do with how it is driven and maintained, AFTER the
investment in building it...
Robert
