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Date:         Fri, 22 Oct 2004 16:14:54 -0500
Reply-To:     Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Project Vanagon Dyno Results & Comparison
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Howdy From Austin,

For those of you that haven't been following my project, I have installed a Porsche 3.2 liter engine and G50 5-speed transmission in my '87 VW Vanagon. When I purchased my Vanagon it was completely stock with an automatic transmission and a 4 -cylinder water-cooled boxer engine rated at 94 horsepower. It was, to say the least, rather a slug on the highway.

I finally got my first 1,000 break-in miles completed, my valves adjusted, and oil changed. So, that meant it was finally time for me to take a trip to the dyno. For comparison purposes, I had my good friend John go along. He has a '91 Vanagon with a 4-speed manual transmission. In addition, he has a relatively fresh Boston Bob stock rebuilt engine with about 20,000 miles on it. I felt that having his van there for comparison would be very good at putting things in perspective.

All testing was performed at Colvin Automotive in Austin, Texas. Project Vanagon was run first, then John's stock Vanagon was run immediately after. Weather conditions didn't have a chance to change between runs. The thermometer read about 80 degrees and it was quite humid. The test was performed on a DynoJet 284C dyno.

The stock Boston Bob stock rebuild yielded a maximum 77.0 horsepower at the wheels. Torque was very high at 93.8 foot-pounds. Most impressive was the broad torque band. Sixty percent (56.3) of peak torque was available from 1700 rpm to 5200 rpm. There was a real abundance of torque available almost everywhere.

Obviously this was not a fair fight. There is no way even the most pumped up 2.1 wbx could compare to the 3.2 Porsche Carrera engine. Project Vanagon was fitted with a test pipe and a genuine RUF 2-2 R twin tip muffler ceramic coated muffler (I just got it on yesterday). Vincent showed a very respectable 196.8 horsepower at the wheels. Torque was also strong at 183.1 foot pounds. Sixty percent (109.86 foot pounds) of peak torque was available from 3,200 rpm up to 7,000 rpm.

So my work, and the work of some very close friends has brought about a 255.8% increase in rear wheel horsepower, and a 195.2% increase in torque at the wheels. Not too shabby.

Once again, I'd like to thank all of the folks that made all of this possible. It has been a long, hard road, but well worth the trip. And I'm not done yet. There is still much more to come.

Cheers, Bruce motorbruce motorbruce@hotmail.com


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