Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2003 10:24:22 -0500
Reply-To: Andrew.Yarnell@KIMLEY-HORN.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Andy Yarnell <Andrew.Yarnell@KIMLEY-HORN.COM>
Subject: Eurocars 2.2L review and Larry Chase BBQ...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Cliff Bellows wrote:
>hello! dose anyone know anything about these people sounds nice.my 91
runs
good but always could use more. http://www.eurocars.bz/news.php <
I had the opportunity last Saturday to meet Larry Chase, and some other
Denver area Vanagon owners, what a good time. Thanks to Ken Morgan and
his family for the BBQ and spending a Saturday at the shop. Sorry I
missed most of the visitors, I showed up around 3:00 PM. Mike and Ben,
maybe we will hook up some other time.
At about 4:00 PM most everyone headed out, but Cory and I stayed around
to take a test drive in Larry's Syncro with the Eurocar's 2.2L
Wasserboxer. With Ken Morgan at the wheel we push started Larry's ride
(the starter went out, and is being replaced as I type this email) and
we were off. Ken let the engine warm up to normal operating temperature,
then hold on! The motor has good power, similar (so I am told) to a 2.2L
Subie in a Vanagon, but more usable torque at lower RPM's. Ken thinks
the engine falls somewhere between the Subie 2.2L and 2.5L in torque and
HP. The weight of Larry's Syncro Westy, and all the extra's, plus
215/75R15 tires did acceleration, but this engine was very good. Quiet
and smooth, with power! It was a tease, I want to drop this engine in my
2WD weekender, and lay rubber down! Ken ran the engine up to the
redline, and then past until the rev limiter stopped the fun, this
engine has really good get up and go, even in Larry's heavy Syncro
Westy.
Ken was kind enough to invite me into his shop for a look at his latest
"revision E" Vortec piston, and rods. The piston is a work of art, and a
lot of development has gone into making a very interesting idea a
reality. I can not talk specifics here, but I was just blown away by
what Ken was telling me. During the test drive you could feel the power
described by Ken that the piston design creates, similar to a small
turbo charger with 1-2 lbs. of boost.
With any new engine there are bound to be small bugs, but Ken is very
dedicated to making this engine work, and work well. He has put his
engine on the line by allowing Larry Chase to do a real world test of
this engine, and I commend Ken for it, he is willing to back his claims
and let Larry tell all about the experience. Larry is not getting a lot
out of the deal, so he has nothing to gain and will be very frank about
performance and reliability of the engine. I can't wait to hear what
Larry has to say after he gets back from his trek out to Kansas City and
back to Denver. This will be the first long haul with the "Revision E"
engine.
I hope this helps anyone looking a new engine right now, and anyone
planning to replace an engine some time in the future. If I had the
money right now, I would go have Ken install this engine today.
Happy motoring!
Andy
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender GL
1992 GTI 8v
1973 Bug
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