Date:         Wed, 3 Jul 2002 16:29:01 -0400
Reply-To:     Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben huot <huotx@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject:      Re: AT speeds/rpm's

Well. Frank you are right and maybe wrong.
Second, your written English is so nice, beautiful and clean that I am
having a hard time translating it!!! (he he he)

But if I understand the basic of it,
Everything you said, I agree! But I hope our VW flat-4 is not included in
that category!!! It's a 1950 basic design!!!! And a push rod engine, that
is partially why it as some torque! And it doesn't like high RPM!!!!! As
oppose to inline conversion (like ticco or Subaru) that are missing torque.
But yes, modern 4-inline engine are comfortable at high revolution, they
basically don't like low rev as opposed too V6 or V8 low rev high torque
engine. They produce "power" (and not necessarily torque) at high RPM. They
can sustain high rev forever.

The more you bring the camshaft close to the head the more you have power
and the more you have high RPM, of course by doing that you are loosing
torque.

Most 16V Double overhead camshaft can sustain higher and higher RPM and
produce they peak power at 5000 to 7000 RPM.
A good example is the most powerful "Displacement vs Power" engine
(standard production) in the world, the 2000cc Honda S2000. 2.0 litre,
16-valve, DOHC VTEC 240 horsepower at 9000rpm. 153lb.-ft at 7500 rpm.
http://english.honda.ca/models/s2000.asp

I had the chance of driving this car a few week ago and believe it goes
like a rocket, but!!!! Nothing under 6000RPM, when I say nothing it's
nothing.

The torque is absent on this car, power = revolution.

That why the heavy weight of the westy doesn't like small inline 4 cylinder
car engine, it need some torque to gets going, especially at full stop.

Be careful when you choose a conversion engine for the westy, think
"torque" first. The high RPM will not cope for the missing torque,
especially on hill.

A good logical for a Westy (not engine/space wise) would be the small V6
Grand Vitara Suzuki engine, V6, 24-valve, quad cam, 162 lb-pi at 4 000 rpm,
2,494 cc. That would give a smooth ride; it is a very light V6 with very
low fuel consumption in its class ,the toque would more than sufficient.

Well, that was "Engine Talk"

Ben