Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2003 08:24:13 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Subject: Re: Compare & Contrast: Diesel Westy vs. 2.1 WBX Westy
In-Reply-To: <20030615144357.H6713@gull.us>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Dave et al,
on 15/6/03 12:08 pm, David Brodbeck wrote:
>
> First off, I'm not sure you want to use a diesel tranny if this will be a
> gas I4. It's got *very* short gearing. The accelleration will seem nice
> but you'll rapidly tire of listening to the engine doing 4,000+ RPM on the
> freeway, unless you don't want to drive fast. I like my diesel, but it's
> not a quiet beast. Also, you have to consider the extra wear and tear on
> the engine when it's spinning at those high RPMs, and the fuel economy
> you'll sacrifice. A diesel can spin at 4,000 RPM and still get 25 mpg,
> but a gas engine can't.
I kept the diesel tranny in my conversion, at the time it was to keep costs
down. Never did get around to swapping in a different trans or replacing R&P
gears. I can cruise at 65-70, I have wound her out to 85 (pegged speedo) and
I have put 115K miles on the engine in that configuration.
Have had no engine problems all these years apart from a leaky cam shaft
seal (replaced), leaky valve cover gasket (one mounting bolt had backed out)
and a leaky oil pan seal (replaced)
Gas mileage remains good, I have kept records all these years (9 years now)
and I go from a low of 25 mpg in the winter to a high of 31 in summer.
(imperial gallons).
Vibrations? well it did get a little buzzy these last couple of years as the
stock diesel muffler finally wore out (I don't know how old the muffler was,
was on van when I got it in 92.5). I have re-done the exhaust system to a
new (Audi 80 manifold) 2 into one, 2.5" diameter exhaust tubing ending in a
6" diameter X 22 " long Volvo muffler. This set-up is quieter than the old
diesel arrangement but not as quiet as I want. I have a resonator to add
before the muffler and that should help.
But I get NO 3000 rpm to 4000 rpm resonances or vibrations with this set up.
Funny thing is that the resonance peak that I do have is at 1200 rpm! The
addition of the resonator should help.
Muffler rubber mounts did break on occasion in the old exhaust system. Have
had no problems with the new system and no cracking of welds etc. Maybe that
is because I actually thought the thing through and looked at the stock set
up and other peoples experiences before designing my own.
Check out my website for more info, esp. Frank Grunthaler's comments about
engine rpm/power etc.
Alistair
--
'82 Westy -> diesel converted to gas in '94
albell@uvic.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/albell
>
> The heater box in the '82 diesels is unique and inferior to the later
> system. I'm told it's a straight swap, though.
>
> All of the I4 engines in Vanagons tend to tear muffler mounts. They're
> not a great expense, but they are a regular wear item. Some of the gas
> exhaust systems people have rigged up tend to crack and break up. There
> are a lot of opportunities to create lengths of exhaust pipe that will
> resonate at certain engine speeds and shake the whole thing apart. Even
> the diesel exhaust system can suffer from this if one of the rubber mounts
> fails.
>
> For engine mounting parts, if you keep the '86 you may be best off getting
> a diesel van with a blown engine and scavenging the parts from it. That
> way you'll have all the pieces and won't be missing anything.
>
> I don't think I'd consider the 3/4 slider hub a distinction between vans
> unless one of the vans you're considering has a rebuilt transmission.
>> From what I've heard they're prone to breakage in *all* model years.
>
>> On the camper side, does the diesel pop top
>> canvas attach differently and if so is it reliable, does the fridge have a
>> diode to show when the flame is lit, did pre '86 propane tanks typically
>> have the auto-stop fill valve feature and etc etc etc.
>
> The pop-top is identical except it doesn't have the skylight. One can be
> added; there are creases molded into the top at the right place, you just
> need to cut the hole. The differences in the camper interior between the
> different years are pretty minor.
>
> The fridge has an LED to indicate whether the pilot is lit. Don't know
> about the auto stop because my tank's been worked on by the previous owner
> and may not have the original equipment.
>
> Hope this helps. I'm not sure where you live, but if you're in the SE
> Michigan area you're welcome to look over my '82 if you think it'll help.
>
>
> David Brodbeck, N8SRE
> '82 Diesel Westfalia
> '94 Honda Civic Si
