Date:         Tue, 5 Sep 2000 20:16:35 -0400
Reply-To:     Karl Mullendore <thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Mullendore <thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Thinking swap?  Engine options are only half the story...What
              about the transmission...
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----- Original Message -----

> When you are thinking about engine options also factor in 'The
transmission' as part of the package.
>
> In SA, with the basic engine (2.3L 5 cylinder) comes with the four speed.
ALL other engine options come with the close ratio .457 five speed.  The
five speed makes better use of the engines power, while giving you a
overdrive.
>
> If you are thinking about spending bucks to go to Tii conversion I4, you
will spend @$5000+ for the engine + ??? for labor.  Add a close ratio tranny
to make up for the lacking low end, add another @$2000 on top of what you
have spent and you would pay for a WBX rebuild w/mods, SA 5 speed, hoses,
and many other parts towards a restoration (Which I did).
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S'cuse me?!.........did I somehow miss the side-by-side accleration tests
between your 'modified' WBX and the Tiico 2.0? You took ONE
seat-of-the-pants description of the 'feel' of the Tiico's low end power,
and all of a sudden your modified engine has more? As to the cost, you're
off by a full $1000 on the 2WD Tiico package, it's not $5000, but $4000.
Adding labor at a shop such as mine adds back that $1000, so that's ALL that
is spent.
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> You can modify an engine AND ADD a .457 SA five speed tranny for about the
same cost as the Tii conversion alone.
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SO what? I don't see a real-world advantage here yet. The modified WBX has
no 'track-record' as of yet, we have no PROOF that it is more powerful than
the Tiico, or lasts longer than any other 'garden-variety' WBX rebuilt
engine.
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> I just put on a new ECU (I want to run the new ECU before I add the
Upgrade chip, to get a before and after conversion performance).  With the
new ecu the top end power is a stronger, bottom end is smoother and the gas
mileage has increased about 1 mpg around town (I have not tested at highway
speeds, 65-75 yet, so I should also see an increase on highway mileage).
> Like I have said, I can go in fifth from 40mph (35 if I do not feel like
shifting) to 90 mph+.
> Fourth can go from 25mph to 75mph.
> The engine can go down to 1500 move the van with no trouble.  I can keep
it in fifth
>
> Adding the ECU chip upgrade will increase both power and mileage.
>
> While you can swap to the Tiico 's kit, you would then need to spend more
money to make it run better at low end: cam, intake and other changes to
make better power at low speeds OR live with having to rev the engine, which
can then shorten it life....
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Hmm, guess we'll wait and see how long a 3-main bearing modified engine
lasts, versus a strong understressed cast iron block inline 4. Revs don't
hurt them, and the 2.0 does have low-end power. Ya don't need new a new cam
or different intake, but I do bet that there will be a performance chip
burned for these soon.
I personally know of no 2.1 WBX engines that have lived over 200K without
rebuilding, but tons of inline VW engines that have.

I think it's time that your WBX power claims are backed up with some real
testing, will we see that soon?

Karl Mullendore
Westy Ventures
1987 Syncro Westfalia 1.9TD