Date:         Tue, 4 Mar 2003 22:59:45 +1300
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: vanagon conversion to mazda rotary engine
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2003030400495849@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>It would probably fit...but...these have a reputation for high fuel
>consumption with poor torque. Doesn't sound like a Vanagon solution. This is
>mentioned recently on
>shoptalkforums.com
>look under "conversion perversions".

I'm sure they put out plently of torque, but at high rpm, and
possibly in a narrow rev band. Twostrokes are reputed to lack torque
too, but in fact they often outtorque fourstrokes (4-stroke diesels
excepted) of similar capacity) at their peaks... witness
lawnmowers... the best are Suzuki twostrokes, and will eat meter-high
grass with blunt blades. I have no idea about twostroke diesels...
but these are probably massive torquers.

A Wankel rotary (VW owns the Wankel patents!!) would be great in a
light vehicle, where the low bottom-end torque doesn't matter, and it
would probably be economical enough. In a heavy van it would take
time to get into the power/torque band, and use a lot of fuel. The
van's low gearing however would offset the problem a wee bit. As I
have said, someone locally (can't remember who, now) recently told me
his work van is Toyota Hiace with 13B rotary. he loves it! And I must
point out that Hiaces are every bit as heavy as our Type 2s.
--
Regards
Andrew