Date:         Wed, 3 Dec 2003 07:51:53 -0500
Reply-To:     vw4x4@FYI.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Subject:      Re: Think I found the reason for SLOW DIESEL vanagons...
Comments: To: Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <8204CA9B-254B-11D8-8636-000393DB2980@knology.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Now this is thinking...... You really want to remove all
excess weight to gain speed.  The only problem I see
is that the newer style engine cover may not be as good
in noise reduction.  Would be a good test to report back to
the list.
                                      Eric

Felder wrote:

> As some of you know, I came by a diesel Westy a few months back and
> have done quite a few things to the engine. Since it's been running so
> well, I've driven it for the last month or so while my 90 Carat sat in
> the driveway. Last week or two I bought a rebuilt power steering rack
> for the 90 from a listemember and installed it.
>
> When I did the work on the 90, I was struck by how LIGHT the late-model
> engine covers are compared to the one on my 83 diesel.
>
> So I think I know what makes the diesel so SLOW: it's the incredible
> weight of the engine cover. It must weigh 3 or 4 times what the later
> model engines covers do. The late-model has a nice dense foam
> underneath instead of that mattress stuffing under the diesel cover.
>
> Installing a later model engine cover would be like losing 30 pounds or
> so. The kind of weight you can feel on a hill (I use my watch going
> uphill to determine how much water is in the freshwater tank). Has
> anybody tried a swap? I may get energetic and try it myself, but was
> wondering is this was a known swap.
>
> Jim
>
>