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Date:         Sat, 15 Sep 2001 00:56:36 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <maxjoyce@IPA.NET>
Subject:      Re: Ideal Gearing Query For Subaru Vanagons
Comments: To: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Anybody studied what Subaru used to begin with? Reinventing the wheel is fun to talk about, though.

DM&FS ----- Original Message ----- From: "Todd Last" <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Friday, September 14, 2001 9:15 AM Subject: Re: Ideal Gearing Query For Subaru Vanagons

> Personally, I like my cruising RPM as close to 3,500 RPM as possible. > > However, > I'd say the best RPM for cruising speed also depends on: > Where the torque peak is on the motor, > The torque curve of the motor, > and the 4th gear ratio. > > If you can easily shift to 4th for "passing" then you may want to have a tall > (low rpm) 5th to go for top MPG and low engine wear. However, if you have to > depend on 5th for passing and hills, you probably do not want to go too tall. > The torque characteristics play into this as well. > > You might want to check the web for some calculators. > Here is one that will calculate your best shift points (for the best > acceleration): > > http://www.prestage.com/carmath/dynochart.asp > > I have not keyed in the Vanagon info - it would be interesting to see what it > said. > > Todd > > '88 Westy > > Derek Drew wrote: > > > I have been approached on numerous occaisions by Vanagon owners asking what > > the ideal gearing setup for Subaru powered Vanagons. My interest is > > primarily syncros, but I think much of what is said about gearing for 4WD > > also applies to 2WD. > > > > The key question that must be answered, upon which all gearing advice > > depends, is what rpm the vehicle should have at 76mph (working top speed > > given the speed limits). That is, what is the rpm that you would be > > comfortable with at 76mph? > > > > If you set the rpms too high, you annoy the passengers in the vehicle and > > possibly extra wear on the motor. If you set the rpms too low, then you > > have a loss of power and torque. > > > > In the non-subie stock Vanagon with a slight power boost through ratio > > rockers and computer chip upgrade, I believe the desirable figure is 76mph > > at 4,000 rpm (compared with ~71mph in stock form). But I have heard > > comments from subie owners complaining about high rpms, and I am under the > > impresssion that subie owners would prefer to set this number lower -- say, > > 3500 rpms at 76mph, or even lower. How low I just do not know. > > > > This email is a general query to subie owenrs who drive in non-flat areas > > of the country to send me an email saying what they judge the best gearing > > out come in 4th gear would be, given your experiences. I need emails that > > explain "I think we should be at x rpm at x mph in 4th gear.) > > > > This information will later be used to construct tables of desirable > > outcomes that other drivers will use in the future when planning their > > gears and placing gear orders. > > > > If you have a great deal of clarity about the lower gears as well, I can > > accept that data too, but my primary interest is in the 4th gear. > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Derek Drew > > CEO & Co-Founder > > http://www.ConsumerSearch.com/ > > New York, NY > > =========================== > > "Best Expert Review Site" > > for product reviews on the Internet > > Jan. 2001, PC World Magazine > > ========================== > > derekdrew@rcn.com > > 212-580-6486 > > > > Alternate numbers for the industrious phone caller that wants to try every > > avenue: 212-580-6486 (best), 917-848-6425 (cell); 202-966-7907 (Work), > > 212-580-4459 (Home), 202-966-0938 (Home), 978-359-8533 (fax [efax]), > > 212-269-3188 (New York Seaport office).


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