Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 23:12:38 EST
Reply-To: Wolfvan88@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Lilley <Wolfvan88@AOL.COM>
Subject: Various Upgrades for Lilleyed WBX... PT1
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
(Sorry that I have not gotten this out sooner, work and preparing for new
baby, one month and counting down and ten million things to do...slowed me
down)
The accessories become the limiting factor when going past the WBX 6000 red
line anyway.
I do not take it that high and "MOST" Vanagon owners do not want power
where they do not drive.
I find I do not have to take it past ~4000 in daily driving, except to
get on a freeway, otherwise I would be running into the rear of many cars in
front during traffic.
Plus how are the other engines during SLOW traffic? I can take my
engine down to smooth ~1500 with no lugging and pull up to smooth 5000 rpms.
Lets not get caught up in the "my engine is bigger than your engine" and
look for real solutions to the problem.
While converting is for some, others just want to make what they have
better.
The whole point of what I did, along with others, was to take the engine
that came in the U.S. (and others that are similar) Vanagons
and address the problems to make it better, to focus on fixing the
problems making it better, fixing common problems to the engine long block,
in order to make it stronger and last longer...For those that do not want
to swap read on...
Adding various parts to increase the power/economy/relability in the WBX
depends on your budget and desired power increase.
BOLT ON:
Air filter Upgrade:
K&N
Source for K&N air filter:
Performance International 696 West 18th Street Costa Mesa, CA 92627
1-800-522-1672
<http://www.performanceintl.com/> Email: performanceintl@virtualrep.comParts
List
E-2475 K&N Air Filter 1 $27.42 (I think it is a few dollars more now)
99-5050 K&N Service Kit 1 $8.95
Spark Plug upgrade:
Use the Bosch Quad tip plugs I am using the platinum quad tip plugs.
They do not make a plug specifically for the WBX engine, but plug #4477
is the # to get.
The direction of the flame kernel is directed towards the piston top more
than with the single and similar to the triple electrode.
I have a set and my engine starts with just a bump of the starter.
ROCKER ARM: 1.25 ratio
IF you DO NOT PLANT TO ADD THE AUSSIE POWER CHIP:
I would use the 1.25 ratio IF you are not going to add the Aussie ECU upgrade
chip.
The chip allows the ECU to better handle the changes in airflow that the
higher ratio rockers add.
1.25 ratio parts:
CB Performance upgrade from stock parts:
1628 Chromoly Push Rods 90,000 PSI $44.95 : lighter than stock, reduces the
weight stock valves push eliminates the need for heavier springs
1665 Rhino 1.25 Ratio Rockers $119.95
1642 Rhino Feet (Porsche 911 style valve adjusting screws) $32.95
1643 High Performance Rocker Shafts $31.95
1534 Rocker Arm pads $4.95
1644 Rocker Arm Spacer kit $10.95
1691 Clip On Valve Covers $16.95--- YOU WILL NEED a bigger rocker cover if
you use ratios rockers!!
**You might have to persuade them, talk to Baya and mention my name, she is
aware of T1 parts I have used with the WBX engine.
ECU UPGRADE:
Contact: David at:
david@clubvw.org.au
He sells the chip.
Cost is @$260 without a group discount.
**If you are adding the chip then 1.3 or 1.4 ratio depends if you plan to
rebuild in the future AND change the cam profile to increase the lift.
IF you are NOT going to change the cam use 1.4
If you are going to change the cam us 1.3.
There are several different brands to choose from: Berg, CB Performance,
Autocrat, Pauter.
There are two different styles the slider and roller tip.
Pauter is the only one I know that has the roller tip.
This has a roller that contacts the valve tip and rolls across the tip rather
than sliding across the tip.
I like the roller tip because it reduces the friction on the valve tip that
leads to the stem wearing out the guide.
I also like the fact that these rockers are light weight aluminum billets
that reduce the rocker weight and eliminates the need for heavier valve
springs.
When you increase lift you also need to increase valve spring pressure to
keep from going into valve float,
but when you do, you increase cam and lifter wear and reduce HP.
Reducing the valve train weight that the spring has to push, increases the
working spring pressure and keeps you from having to go to heavier springs,
so you get the benefit of ratio rockers without the penalty of heavier
springs.
Costs are @300 ~330 for a set of rockers. Look in VW mags for the best
prices.
I think that the Berg set ($400) includes push rods.
The other sets you need to add cut to fit Chromoly push rods. These are
stronger and lighter than stock the steel. Cost ~$40 to $60.
Make sure all FI parts are operating correctly, intakes are tight and gaskets
do not leak. Air runner
Ratio Rockers increase the bottom end torque better than having ported
intakes or bigger valves.
To increase the bottom end power, the valves need to open quick, the problem
is that the ramp on the cam needs to be steep to open the valves, this then
causes wear on the cam, ratio rockers allow for milder ramps on the cam to
minimize wear
Another factor is port velocity. Porting and bigger valves decrease port
velocity at lower speeds. While more air can pass through, it does it at a
slower rate and does not fill the chamber as full, hence less power. Ratio
rocker open the valve sooner and higher and maintain a higher port velocity
in the stock, slightly ported port. The higher velocity air fills the
chamber better at low speeds to get better low end power.
The port walls also come into play for low speed operation. The walls need
to be slightly rough to cause the air/fuel mixture to tumble at low speeds to
emulsify and maintain its mix. Smooth walls can cause the fuel to puddle and
fall out of suspension and low speeds.
Synthetic oil: use a quality synthetic. Redline, Mobil, etc.
Doing a HEAD JOB:
Polish the exhaust port, increase port size slightly.
Clean up the castings on the intakes and increase the port size but do not
polish the ports too much.
Low speed operation needs the castings slightly rough to tumble the air to
keep it mixed with fuel.
Coat the sealing surface with an aluminum sealant. I chose to coat the
surface with a thermal barrier ceramic coatings, to add the benefits of heat
protection to the rubber gaskets.
I chose new AMC heads and had the sealing surface ceramic coated to protect
the surface from corrosion.
1520 HIGH PERF. VALVE LOCKS $10.95 decrease or eliminate valve stem groove
wear
1503 Chromoly Valve Spring Retainers, set of 8 $17.95 Stronger than stock.
VW steel valves with the sodium filled valves @50 each. Stainless steel
while light are softer and do not last as long as steel
Add 95 mm bigger bore pistons. This gives you a little more displacement and
the barrel width is still safe.
http://www.aaautoproducts.com/ (look at the shiny WBX pistons)
Aaautoproducts@aol.com
95 mm WBX has the same compression ratio as the standard 94 mm. We supply our
barrels or bore out the used German barrels in our machine shop.
We charge $16 to bore and hone each barrel. Piston is $139.95 per set."
CLUTCH:
Racing clutch bolts CB Performance:
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