Date:         Tue, 13 Jan 2004 07:14:01 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Huskins <lostranger@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Huskins <lostranger@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: TiiCo -  Questions
Comments: To: James V <tornadored@EARTHLINK.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <BC28D8A8.A358%tornadored@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

On Tuesday, January 13, 2004, at 02:05 AM, James V wrote:

> What would I be getting myself into by purchasing a TiiCo van? I've
> heard
> many opinions about the conversion, most being extremely for or
> against.

I can't speak to the CA emissions question, but I'm in the
enthusiastically FOR category. In 50,000 miles, the only real trouble
I've had was a bad manifold pressure sensor early in the process. It
started running rough, so I took it to a local import shop which had
analyzing equipment. At that point I had to order the plug from Peter
which allows OBD 2 test equipment to be plugged in. He sent it
immediately, and for free, and we quickly found the problem.

My only complaints about the Tiico are the lack of the OBD 2 plug, and
more seriously, the lack of an oxygen sensor circuit in the original
harness. I ran mine without the sensor for a while, but I finally
realized that was stupid. It's no big deal to wire the thing. I used a
universal three wire Bosch sensor from Vanagain. Ken Wilford was, as
usual, a great help, and he also sold me the short wire with proper pin
for connecting to the ECU. I bought coax cable from Radio Shack.

I've had the Tiico in two vans. I got tired of fighting the many
problems in my '85 Westy, especially the bad gas tank, and recently put
the motor in my wife's '89 Carat. What a car! I don't see how anyone
could be disappointed with these conversions. My "new" '91 Carat will
get one as soon as the engine gives trouble. For my money, four in a
row is the way to go.

One more related negative: Since I put the Tiico in the '89, I can tell
that the 3-4 slider is starting to go. Maybe coincidence, but I suspect
that more power accentuates this problem. I'm going to send a spare
transaxle to AA soon so I can have it on hand.

You'll get other opinions, but I say go for the Tiico. I'm in Western
North Carolina about an hour from Asheville. If anyone would like to
drive mine, come on.

Jim Huskins
Spruce Pine, NC