Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 18:11:26 +1200
Reply-To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Subject: Re: Is a Porsche 911 engine too powerful for a Vanagon and/or
Syncro Drivetrain?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
No way will a mere 200-odd hp overwhelm such a good-handling chassis (I'm
serious). Mine had a 174hp GM V6 when I bought it, and could easily have
taken much more power. HOWEVER driving a camper means you have to be
careful on bends, particularly righthanders, as the cabinets etc could
cause a rollover. They fail the Moose Test! Noncamper Vanagons can be
cornered very hard.
Your only worry will be tires, if you feel that you can't afford
high-performance tires suited to heavy vehicles (eg made for Mercedes
S-Class etc). But if you only want the power for overtaking, and not for
speed or hard cornering, this may not normally be an issue.
I am going the G50 route myself. I'm told the trans is on the water now,
bobbing its way over from der Vaterland aboard the SS "Kormoran". Sending
it over by Heinkel would have cost too much. Attached to it will be a 3.3
260hp Subaru DOHC six. A better engine than the Porsche (at LEAST as
reliable, better specific power output, revs harder...911 "purists" may now
selfrighteously choke), watercooled so it allows retention of a working
heater. Brian Steel in Seattle beat me to getting his SVX-Vanagon Syncro on
the road, but he has a workshop of his own and used the stock VW trans
(waiting for it to blow). I may eventually put a supercharger on mine,
either exhaust or belt-driven, I'd have to look into it.
However you don't have a heateras your van is aircooled, so if you don't
mind paying big bucks for an engine and more big bucks if it ever does need
work, the Porsche aircooled six is still a great engine. And it doesn't
need the horrific water plumbing VW came up with...also it's more common
than the Alcyone SVX engine.
In fact I'm doing the G50 route myself, but MSDS seems to have reneged on
his promise to sell me the trans-only part of his kit. My 094 5-speed
failed, no surprise here.
I am now trying to get info from a German fellow who may be able to get
copies of the Claer G50 kit. Herr Claer, in my own experience and those of
various Germans who know him, is not a good man to deal with... if he even
deigns to reply.
Your drivetrain won't handle it long-term. But you could fit a Carrera 4
trans and front diff... or a G50 and ditch the front drive parts.
My next projekt... an SVX-powered 911.
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
fax 64 (3) 479-7527
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
www.goingplatinum.com/member/vw1
www.my-successcenter.com/member/vw1
www.aciimoney.com/index.shtml?vw1
VW & Toyota vans, Toyota diesels and Macintoshes rule
