Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2000 14:25:05 +0200
Reply-To: Conradie Johan <JCONRADIE@OLDMUTUAL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Conradie Johan <JCONRADIE@OLDMUTUAL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tii Trading Co. 2.0 South African conversion kit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
Greetings from Cape Town
From the tiico site, It would seem to be basically the same kit, that is now
offered by VW in South Africa to 2.1 owners in South Africa, when their
engines fail (They used to offer a VW Factory re-manufactured 2.1 but seem
to have abandoned this option, probably due to too many come-backs).
We do not have Catalytic Converter regulations here, so I cannot comment on
implications.
I can say, that as far as I am concerned, this conversion is the best thing
since sliced bread.
(My previous, VW factory re-manufactured 2.1 engine lasted 3 years/60 000km
after the original expired at 120 000km with head gasket coolant leaks)I
considered the Ford V6 Conversion, The Nissan and Toyota conversions but
decided on the 2.0 conversion as the kW and torque remained much the same,
which I believed would place less of a strain on the transmission which is
prone to hassles with the 3rd and 4th gear anyway.
I had some initial hassles, but all were eventually resolved.
Mainly around noise from the Previous ThroughFlow Stainless Steel Power
Exhaust system which had been great on the old 2.1. (The final solution is
now using a flexible knuckle joint from a Golf II where the new silencer
should start, then a 420mm Stainless Steel Through-Flow silencer, followed
by 120mm pipe, followed by another 420mm S/S silencer and finally an L
outlet)
A plastic elbow that was not installed, to connect the snorkel to the new
air filter (snorkel was moved from RHS to LHS)
Air Con connections not made correctly.
Incorrect Oil Dipstick Marks
Some minor initial oil leaks
The conversion was done in May 1999 by a local VW dealership (about the 7th
conversion done in Cape Town) and I have done about 16000 Km since. (With
new clutch, refilling of Air Con, came to ZAR24 000 / 6 = +- $4000)
The fuel consumption has improved between 25 to 30% and I have more power to
tow my 6 berth caravan(pop-top trailer).
(I understand that the torque figure is much the same as the stock RSA 2.1
but instead of maximum at +-2800rpm it is now at +-3500rpm which I have
certainly found more useful when towing a luggage trailer or a caravan or
when heavily loaded)
Regards
Johan Conradie
jconradie@oldmutual.com
'89 Caravelle 2.1i (same as USA Vanagon with rectangular headlights, armrest
front seats, power windows, air con, electric side mirrors, tinted glass, 5
speed Transmission, etc. as standard)
'79 Mercedes 230 Manual
'85 Mercedes 230E Auto
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom and Mary Beth Wayne [mailto:tmwayne@NR.INFI.NET]
Sent: 05 February 2000 2:37 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Tii Trading Co. 2.0 South African conversion kit
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone on the list knew anything about this conversion
kit with information at http://www.tiico.com/prod04.htm . It sounds
promising to me but didn't know if any others on the list had had the kit
installed successfully. I am a little leery of the conversion kits after
reading the bad reviews on the Autospec conversion.
Thanks,
Tom Wayne
'84 Westy
'86 Jetta 1.8 gl
'98 Jetta TDI
