Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 09:43:41 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
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
<<< This is very true but what is missing is that (I bet) 95% of the time
power increases available in the aftermarket provide the newfound
power at higher engine rpms, often at the sacrifice of low rpm
driveability. >>>
This depends entirely on the cam selection, valve size, port size, Air intake
system, exhaust selection. Engines can and are built for different power
bands.
I kept my engine dimensions stock: I kept the stock stroke and bore, stock
valve size. I changed other items with careful consideration as to the out
come desired.
I changed the cam lift and duration slightly. I know that VW engines (T1,
T4, Wasserboxer and others) often are under cammed and a small change will
increase power but will not affect low end.
I did not go to big valve heads. In the past on a T1 engine I built, I did,
lost mpg (40 mpg down to 20 mpg) but with no real power gain. On my
Wasserboxer I cleaned up the ports rough castings. I did not polish the ports
because the low end power depends on the swirling effect of the rough surface.
I removed any port size difference by match porting exhaust, intake, heads.
I also did many other things to the engine.
I tried to keep the power band in the lower range between 2K to 5K, where I
drive 95% of the time. Why build an engine to have high power at 7000 RPMs
when I normally do not drive the engine there (BTW my engine can go to 7000
RPMs if I had a different FI system...)?
The results of the choices I made are that I have a power band of 2000 to
5000 RPMs. The engine can also pull @1200 RPMs in 2nd, and 3rd (I have taken
off in third from a dead stop).
<<< Given that Vanagons are really pretty big trucks and
not likely to be able to use more power and speed where the road
becomes curvy, this seems a little useless. >>>
Well, I disagree, With my H&R springs, I can now take curves EASILY. I can
keep it at 55mph in a curve with signs saying to slow down to...
Now all I need to do is add some sway bars to handle the really sharp
curves...
Actually I do want to add the sway bars so that if I do run into some sharp
curves unexpectedly (It has happened, especially at night), I still can
maintain control.
<<<In addition, Vanagon owners have few options when it comes to changing
overall gearing to match the new found higher rpm capabilities. >>>
Again I disagree. When my tranny died the "fragile hub death," I look for
options to change my fourth gear and ended up getting a five speed tranny.
The first one was a .483 ring and pinion. The gearing was low, first was to
low, but second was too tall to take off stopped. The locking diff acted up
(Loc-Rite Diff is a third party part that Weddle installed) I returned the
tranny and UPS damaged it, so it went back. Weddle then sent me a tranny
with a .457 ring and pinion. This tranny is MUCH better than the stock four
(First still is a tad low, but some 15" rims and tires will fix that) The
gearing allows me to take advantage of the increased power. I can keep it in
fifth as low as @ 35mph (engine RPMs @2K) and still accelerate back up to 80
MPH (engine RPMs @4K).
<<< It seems to me the best improvement for a Vanagon is not a "screamer"
engine but rather just a bigger one. What currently seems best to me
is the VW/Audi 5 cylinder in Eurovan tune. Probably something really
close to what VW now offers in South Africa. >>>
My engine is not a "screamer" engine, but It moves me rather quickly...
<<< Also, while everyone is different and can do what they want, it just
seems more likely someone would want to own a high performance Beetle
with a screamer engine than a Vanagon set up like that. (Heck, the
Beetle can stand really big rear tires to get the gearing, and
probably different gears are actually available too.) Vanagons are
just utility vehicles and will never outrace even a 4.3 Chevy Astro
Van or such unless they have the same engine (he'll be gone by the
time you get your rpms up) and who cares? Now, something that pulls
itself better through mountains while still obtaining similar or even
a little better fuel economy and maintaining driveability seems more
the ticket. Back to the 5-cylinder in my thinking.>>>
I did not build an engine to "Race, Dust, Blow the doors off and any other
cliche entered here _______" What I did do is build and engine that has
increased reliability, increased power and increased gas economy (I am
getting @ 20 to 25 mpg with increased power).
IMHO IF VW had done what I did, not many of us Vanagon drivers would be
complaining about a lack of power, unless of course, they think they are
driving a race car...
Now with the engine so quiet, I am hearing a lot of annoying squeaks I must
eliminate...
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