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Date:         Sat, 16 Oct 2004 10:22:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Antaki <wrack@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Antaki <wrack@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: 101 MPH Vanagon!
Comments: To: tmiller@vcmails.com
In-Reply-To:  <41713B4F.9030100@vcmails.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I was being tongue-in-cheek with my comment about a rear wing.

Sorry to say, I haven't heard of any aerodynamic fixes for any model of Vanagaon, with the exception of the air dam such as those that came stock on my '88 Wolfsburg edition.

At this point, the air dam had been knocked loose by too many meetings with ground objects, although that is exacerbated by the Wolfy's stance being lower than normal by more than an inch, a factory mod.

My Syncro Westy, on the other hand, did not come with the air dam, nor would one survive very long at all on this beast. ;->

Wait, I just found this page using Google, there must be more.

good luck!

Ron

-----Original Message----- From: tmiller [mailto:tmiller@vcmails.com] Sent: Saturday, October 16, 2004 8:17 AM To: Antaki Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: 101 MPH Vanagon!

Now that you mention it, what are the aerodynamic "fixes" for Vanagon campers? I suppose this is in the archives somewhere, but I'm just shooting from the hip at the moment. I know someone mentioned a deflector for the luggage area above the front seats. You mention an air deflector at the rear. What are the possible add-ons to reduce drag? Thanks! TEMiller

Antaki wrote:

>OK, so we;ve gone over the "why" factor and the "surprise the hot-rod" >factor. Now it's time for the "shock" factor - install a bloody big >wing on the back of that Vanagon!! >Bwahahahaaa... >Ron Antaki > >-----Original Message----- >From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf

>Of Bruce Nadig >Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2004 4:16 PM >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >Subject: 101 MPH Vanagon! > > >Howdy All, > >As of last Wednesday, I successfully completed my first 1,000 miles in >Project Vanagon (Vincent) since I installed the '87 Porsche 3.2 liter >Carrera engine and G50 transmission. Over the weekend my buddy, and >Porsche Master Technician, Steve came over, and we (mostly Steve) >adjusted the valves. I still need to do an oil and filter change, but >that should happen in the next couple of days. > >Anyhow, today I had to drive down to San Antonio to take care of some >business. That gave me my first extended trip in the van, and it was on

>fairly straight, although frequently congested, Interstate 35. On the >way to San Antonio I was able to achieve 101 MPH in 4th gear (the G50 >'box is a 5-speed). I would have kept going, but I had to slow for >traffic. For a brick, 101 isn't too bad. > >On the way home, I had a couple more opportunities to let Vincent >stretch his legs. Once again I got him up to 101 mph in 4th but had to >slow for traffic. The greatest achievement of this second top speed run

>is that it was uphill, into the wind. Vincent was still pulling hard >and accelerating in 4th as I went uphill. Once again, I ultimately had >to slow for traffic. > >I have a set of South African Big Brakes, but I haven't installed them >yet. I did, however, realize one additional braking characteristic of >the >Vanagon: if you lift off the throttle at 101, the van itself acts as its own >aerodynamic brake. Man, once you are off the gas things things slow down >FAST. > >I wish that traffic had been a little bit lighter so that I could have >gotten up a bit more steam and seen what Vincent would do in 5th. All >in all, I can't complain. 101mph in 4th, uphill, into the wind makes me

>happy for now. > >By the way, I feel very confident that the indicated speed was >accurate. I have had my speedometer calibrated. In addition, I went >through a construction zone that has one of those portable radar >trailers that displays your speed. At that time it displayed 73mph, >exactly what was showing on my speedo. > >Once I got closer to Austin I did have one of my first stealth >encounters. A silver Honda with all sorts of decals and a huge can >hanging off the back passed me. Traffic was light enough at that point >that I was able to thread my way up to him and take him by surprise. I >don't know what was going through his mind, but I'd like to know what >he was thinking. > >Now I need to make arrangements to get some dyno time. > >Cheers, >motorbruce@hotmail.com > > > >


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