Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 11:58:35 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Gearing/rpm
In-Reply-To: <BEE9552F.36B4%paquette@nethere.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Karin, rpm vs speed is always a problem on these vanagons. They were
designed and built for a different era, and like the lil'boy sez' , " It
ain't made to go 100 nph with your hair on fire!!".
Indicating 70 at 4000 rpm is about right, as the original stock speedos
typically read five miles fast, ie, at 70 indicated you are doing 65
actual. Much depends on what tires and rims you are running. Here in the
Southeast US I found that when running 65 in the truck lane - which is
posted 65 mph for trucks - the truckers would bear down on me any way.
So if they were really doing 65 mph, and I'm was doing 65 mph, somebody
WAS NOT doing 65 MPH. Me - or them?? Well, given the setup on the
Vanagon, I was prol'ly running a true 60, and not 65. I had to replace
my speedometer with a factory new one, and I also put on a set of
Michelin XCA 205-75 14's that are a bit bigger in diameter. The two
together now have me right on speed wise. If the speedo says 65, then
I'm doing 65 - not 60. Even so, I limit engine rpm to 3800 except for
the occasional forray up to 4000 rpm. But I never cruise with it up
there at that rpm.
If you go to a larger tire/rim combination you will be able to get that
rpm thing on the highway lowered just a bit, and if you want to go even
further there is a 5-speed conversion that is available from Weddle
Engineering. Don't know if it works on a Syncro however.
If I had a nice Syncro, if my circumstances permitted, I don't think I
would use it as a daily driver. I would park it and drive something lest
costly to operate on a daily basis than a 17-20 year old near antique
vehicle. I would save it for weekends and those special trips. As the
Lil' Boy "Sez, " they ain't gettn' no younger!!"
My 88 GL is my daily driver, BUT, I only have to WALK 50 feet and I'm at
work. So my daily driving is to the post office and the grocery store,
essentially. No commuting.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver.
Karin Baker & Raymond Paquette wrote:
>Hey
>
>My tach reads about 4000 RPM at 70 MPH. Does this seem about right? It's
>an 87 Synchro.
>
>Cruising at 4000 RPM (or more) doesn't seem like the best idea, but at least
>here in Southern CA, 70 MPH is about the freeway minimum.
>
>Raymond
>
>
>
>
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