Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 22:28:36 -0400
Reply-To: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject: Central OH Vintage VW Show (11th)/ VR6 Vanagon
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
As our first time in attendance, we were very pleased with the organization
of the meet. There were over 350 cars registered. I counted twelve
Vanagons including one double cab Syncro. We were way outnumbered by the
Splitties and the Bays. Probably close to sixty of these combined.
Vendors galore and a veritable yard sale of used and NOS parts ( mostly Old
Beetle and air cooled stuff).
The cars FS varied from a couple of rust bucket Karmaan Ghias (@ $300 )
dragged off a trailer to a steal on a beautiful '67 near perfect biege
Beetle sedan (@ $2895); to the only Vanagon FS, a somewhat 'out there'
version of Scooby-Doo's Mystery Machine ( @ $4895).
Some of the Westy crowd spent the night before on site and danced to a band
playing oldies. A few of the COVVWC board attend our COWvab campouts...so I
KNOW they had a good time.
All in all a very nice show with lots of great VWs, VW fans... my kinda
people!
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE VR6 VANAGON!
Built by Oliver Wegener of Wegener Engineering (owegener@nase.org)
Original '85 Vanagon GL with 400k plus miles.
'94 Jetta GLX VR6 donor
Raised rear deck approx. 6"...flock gray on ply/insulation board
Engine sits reversed longitudinally with no slant/tilt
Modified oil sump (9 qts.)...clearance was a little low but not too bad
Has the two flywheels cut and mated to use the van's clutch/transmission
His company makes all the engine brackets and mod. equipment in Germany
Engine sits on rubber mounts ( he said European-style ?)
Oil cooler mounted on right side engine compartment, with 911 fan added
ECU in a storage area ( left side) created by the raised deck
Stock header with custom "U" pipe to lead out the vans stock muffler
cut out area, right side
A small cut out in the forward center part of the deck ( 6"d X 12"w )
allowed the clutch housing and tranny to mate up perfectly.
He is waiting for a used 5 speed Euro Vanagon transmission to change out the
old one. ( Remember the old one has 400K + on it.)
Overall it looked very well done. He reported a bit of engine flex into the
rear compartment edge when he first installed it and "really stood on it".
It was very tight front-to-back. NO vibration or shaking whatsoever. The van
sounded like, well, a very tight sports car.
BTW he had 16" Porsche wheels and brake system on it with an attractive
custom green paint job. BOY! Did the guys really ogle that engine!
Me included.
--
Stephen
Chillicothe OH
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