Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 20:45:32 -0700
Reply-To: chestnuts@USWEST.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg Pizzolato <chestnuts@USWEST.NET>
Subject: maiden trip on rebuilt 85' GL
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hey listee's, how was everyone's weekend? good I hope.
I'm happy to report that my weekend was definetely a fun
one, and a load off. let me explain. last july i bought my
first vanagon, an 85 GL that I knew needed quite a bit of
work, but also knew that I could do it. so i bought it and
started in on the task of making it the type of van that I
could trust my trip plans as well as my life with. first
things first i stripped down the engine to basically a long
block. and started building it back up from there completely
cleaning the entire air intake system, and replacing every
vacuum hose on the vehicle. I then painstakingly cleaned
everyinch of the engine compartment as well as the engine,
and as i did this took the time to inspect any, and all
parts, which were replaced or repaired as necessary. Well
along with the freshly polished air intake system, I also
had to install a completely new exhaust system minus the
catalytic conv. luckily it was still in good shape. i
decided to go with all factory pipes on the exhaust. for the
extra money i know i can expect a long life out of the
exhaust. well next i basically did the same to the
transmission, removing axle shafts, cleaning, replacing any
seals, rebuilding and repacking cv axles, removing and
replacing every bushing or part subject to wear on the
entire shifter linkage assembly. i think you get the idea of
the care and time i've put into this project. but I
basically went over inch of the van incuding radiator,
baffle, spare tire area, as well as the dash and all
controls. Well like i said i had a happy weekend because me
and two buddies drove it down to big sky, in montana to do
some snowboarding, and from what i could tell. i would like
to gather advice on some aspects of it's performance. do
these things soun normal, an thoughts, or suggestions?
average cruising speed was about 70 mph the van seemed to
want to go about this fast, personality. another thing that
surprised me was the mileage, like i said there were three
of us with gear, and altogethor weighed probably 700lb's, we
were getting somewhere between 230 - 250 miles per tank,
does that sound about right and that included one mountain
pass each way, a pretty big one. Through the passes it moved
at a pretty solid 50 mph in 3rd gear. last concern is that i
was experiencing some stalling more often when it was cold
but it would do it under both conditions, and it would only
stall if it were just idling. Well like i said it was a fun
trip and went well. but i would love any thoughts on
anything above, particularly any tips or tricks on
increasing mileage, and maybe a little more hp out of the
1.9l.I've heard a lot of stories about the vans stalling but
i thought that was just with the digifants. Thanks ahead of
time for any help.
gjpizz
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