Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 08:15:46 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: air cooled engine alternatives
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
There is one rule that applies to all automobiles and their drivers.
'People that drive fast break parts'.
The fastest I've ever had my stock air cooled 83 Westy (5300 pounds) is
85 mph.
Lets see now, was it the piston that seized first or the ring lands that
broke first ?
I have no doubt that extra horse power from any source would make the
heavy Westies and Vans more fun to drive.
The Waser Boxer guys have genuine alternatives with InLine engines and
Subaru engines that offer reasonable dependability at speeds over 70 mph.
From what I see either conversion with a quality engine will cost about
$4000.00.
I recently assisted a local Air Cooled guy to get his Subary water cooled
installed in an 81 Air Cooled Westy.
He likes the new power, the quiet engine and can pull a 1000 pound
trailer at 70 mph.
I'd consider one of these before I'd go the Corvair or InLine route.
However the truth remains ..... if I had a $4000.00 maintenance or repair
job required on my Westy it would be sold off as quick as I could find a
victim.
Stan Wilder
On Fri, 13 Dec 2002 08:31:14 EST Bill Marshall <Willolyn99@AOL.COM>
writes:
> Jeff sez:
> "When I do 75MPH in any of my Vanagons, the engine is turning over
> 4000RPMs.
> Without a 5 speed, or a completely different tranny, wouldn't your
> top speed
> be limited by the number of RPMs the engine can turn?"
>
> Yep. My old 1.9 WBX could get up to about 93-95 mph before the
> engine rev
> limiter kicked in and shut down the engine. There is no redlining
> -- when
> you hit the red zone on the tach, the engine says no way. The ECU
> either
> cuts the gas or the spark, not sure which. I'll bet it turns off
> the
> injectors.
>
> Some engine swaps allow more speed, because the donor engine will
> have a
> higher redline. The Tiico I4 redlines at 6300 rpm, which would give
> you
> about 115 mph. I've only had mine up to 102, and only for a moment.
> 100 mph
> is about 5400 rpm with stock wheels and my 4-spd.
>
> (all math is approximated.)
>
> Bill Marshall
> 85 GL Tiico "Pandora's Box"
> Bradenton FL
>
>
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