Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 21:11:42 -0700
Reply-To: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Ideal Gearing Query For Subaru Vanagons
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
ROTFL!
Would you believe passing Volvo Stationwagons and cars with people talking on
cell phones?
I guess nobody would believe me if I said I often passed cars going up the
summit of Highway 17 to Santa Cruz unless I provided photo evidence. The whole
key in being able to pass in a Vanagon is keeping your momentum up - and to be
very good at anticipating the traffic.
For those of you not familiar with CA Highway 17, it runs from San Jose over
the Santa Cruz mountains and down to the town of Santa Cruz in California. It
is a windy road that runs from sea level to about 4,000 feet and back down
again.
You might enjoy the 'Highway 17 hall of shame"
http://www.got.net/~egallant/the_road.html
Todd
'88 Westy
Jay L Snyder wrote:
> Passing! ha ha ha ha. What cement mixers! Diesel Chevettes? ha ha ha ha
>
> Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM> on 09/14/2001 10:15:56 AM
>
> Please respond to Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> cc: (bcc: Jay L Snyder/AE/DuPont)
> 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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