Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2001 08:23:01 -0400
Reply-To: Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: TiiCo Update
Content-type: multipart/alternative;
Following is a message I sent to Peter at TiiCo this morning. Thought it
might be useful reading for other TiiCo-ists.
Hi Peter:
Our SA engine has been in and running well for about 1500 miles. 22 mpg and
it goes! Ours you might recall also has the Weddle 5 speed attached to it.
What a spectacular combination. We also have a "sport" type exhaust on
the engine. This consists of a 55mm catalyst from a 16V Scirocco ( I think
the largest VW has made), a 2.5" Walker MagnaFlo muffler (basically a 6"
diam. welded glass-pack), and a 2.25" stainless tailpipe. Great music and
great power. Certainly louder than stock but not intrusive. After living
with this combo for a little while, I felt as though the engine was running
a little lean (even after setup on the VAG 1552). Knowing that this can
happen with "open" exhausts that create a fuel need beyond the injection
system's ability to compensate, I added an adjustable fuel pressure
regulator with a gauge. Stock regulator showed 28-30 PSI, which is about
where it should be. I bumped the adjustable regulator to 35PSI. Wow. Now
more lean stumbles, throttle response is instant, top end just keeps
pulling. Try it! Finally, a critical change. We replaced the "GL" badge
on the hatch with an original "GTi" badge.
A question. I do get a pretty significant vibration/resonance coming
through the body at about 4000 rpm when accelerating. I know that this is a
typical problem with inline 4 cyl engines, but I also know that it can be
tuned out. I have not been able to figure out if the vibration is coming
from my non-stock exhaust (could be, it has broken 2 marginal welds made by
me already) or if the motor mounts are bottoming out and sending vibes into
the body. I have tried various combos of adjustment on the exhaust mounts
which do make some difference, but I don't think that's it. To me it
actually looks like the right motor mount bracket might be squeezing inward
too much and making contact with the rubber on the mount itself under hard
acceleration when the engine is trying to twist. I'm thinking I might
either pursuade it with an 8 lb. sledge, or remove the mount and slot the
mount hole to move ita way from the bracket more. Have you had any
experience with this?
Thanks for making this kit available! Our Vanagon is a whole different
animal!
Gary
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