Date:         Wed, 20 Jun 2001 05:06:59 -0000
Reply-To:     Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Boston Bob Engine, Low Compression and Low Vacuum - Good News
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Volks -

Good news!  Bob and I discussed the problem last week, and he explained the
conclusions he had reached about needing to adjust the valves differently.
(See his recent post for details)

He called my mechanic, Randy, to explain what he wanted, and today I got the
valves adjusted.

Randy said that while working on them he noticed the exhaust valve lifter on
#4 was quite soft. We hope that without the constant tension on the lifter
it will have a chance to pump up.

The vacuum, which has been 6-8#, came up to 10# at idle, and the tiniest
increase in rpm brings it up to 12-13#

The idle also seems a bit smoother, and pickup off the line is noticably
better.  Before I had a sort of sag in power while the rpms came up.  It is
much less noticable now.

On the highway, there seems to be a bit more power.  I took my test over the
shoulder of Moscow Mt. (2700' to 3000' in ~ 1.5 miles, then back down to
2700' in ~2 miles) and still had to get down to 3rd fairly quickly going up,
but when I turned around and came back over the hill on the slightly easier
grade, I was able to pull it in 4th.  The last little bit brought me down
almost to 50, but it maintained 55 up to that point.  Last week both would
have been 3rd gear.

I'm happy.  This weekend I will put about 120 highway miles on the blue
beast, and will let you know how it runs and what the mileage is.  We might
still have to do some adjustments to get the fuel/air mixture right, but
that will come.

I still haven't found the source of the occasional engine cutout.  Based on
lots of good advice from folks on the list, I have checked wiring
connections, wiggled relays, and cleaned grounds.  Now I'm carrying a spare
ecu relay and ignition switch, as well as the spare ecu.  I figure I'll try
replacing them one at a time if it acts up again, and see what happens.

It's odd that it doesn't do it around town, especially if it's a short.  I
would think that the additional flexing you get from start and stop traffic
would exacerbate the problem, but - hey - it's a Vanagon!

If things run well this weekend, I hope to stop fiddling with the engine
until I get back from my vacation in July, and give it another 1000 miles to
settle in.  Then we'll check the compression and see if it's up where it
belongs.

Right now, though, I'm a much happier camper than I was a couple of weeks
ago.  Bob has been a big help, and I really appreciate his willingness to
work with me and Randy.

Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, Idaho
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