Date:         Thu, 12 Jul 2001 10:35:12 -0400
Reply-To:     Bill Knight <bill.knight@USA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Knight <bill.knight@USA.NET>
Subject:      TIICO: Conversion Discussion
In-Reply-To:  <F185DVvm24TzmKYTget0000e270@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Thanks to everyone who contacted me on/off the list regarding TIICO issues.
Rather than use a separate list, I'd like to propose just a prefix on the
subject line that says TIICO, so that anyone not interested can just hit
delete.

I hope I didn't come across as not being satisfied with the kit by saying
that I didn't think it was a "bolt-in" replacement.  It is pretty close,
considering what is involved.  I have just run into a few items which I
didn't think everyone should have to figure out by themselves.  For
instance, my conversion is for an automatic transmission and the lower bell
housing studs were about an inch too long.  So after scouting around, I
found that the stock Type I lower studs fit exactly.  Also the top left stud
needs to be longer, and I found that a Type I top starter side thru-bolt
fits great, but does away with the stud on that side.  Also, the drive plate
is 2mm thicker than stock.  This means you need 2mm longer bolts to connect
the torque converter.  These bolts are not included in the kit.  It was hard
finding new bolts with the required 12.9 quality grade.  The length of these
bolts is critical because the torque converter threads bottom out at a
certain depth and thus if your bolt is too long, you would be fooled into
thinking everything was tight when it really wasn't.

I've also been building an interface to connect my laptop to the ecu for
running VWTool.  I am trying to do it wire-wrap style, but find it a bit
tricky and have no way to test it.  I would like to know if anyone sells an
interface at a reasonable cost, without having to purchase the complete
VAG-COM setup for $200, since I've got the software.

My biggest frustration is that when I went to install the new engine
carriers, I found that the right one is missing from the kit.  So my project
has been on hold for a week now and still am waiting on the additional
parts.

Regarding the fuel pressure issue, my friends at Transporter Werks here in
Raleigh recently installed the kit for a customer.  They had trouble with
lean running and determined it to be insufficient fuel pressure.  They
solved the problem by purchasing an adjustable regulator from CB
Performance.  I was curious if others had found that they had a lean running
situation, or if this was just a fluke.

Other than that, things are going pretty well, I'm replacing the plastic
coolant pipes and all hoses, including A/C hoses.  I found R134 hose at
Parker Hose and Fittings and I had Cary Diesel Injection crimp on my
original hose ends to the new hoses.  The total cost for the two long hoses
was about $60 and the crimping job cost $20.

As I'm only part way into the project, I'd like to hear about other problems
and solutions that have been encountered.  I'm sure others who are thinking
about this conversion would like to hear too.

Bill Knight
Raleigh, NC
'84 Wolfsburg Westy
'91 Carat (under construction)