Date:         Tue, 5 Jul 2005 15:44:50 -0400
Reply-To:     Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doug Alcock <doug.alcock@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Engine Choices - Call for Data
Comments: To: Larry Chase <roadguy@roadhaus.com>
In-Reply-To:  <001901c57e6a$a95e2640$26d1d646@t41>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi Larry,
I've got a 1.8 litre I4 engine in my 84 Westy. The engine is from a
Golf and the fuel injection is mechanical --- from a Rabbit. I have no
idea about all the technical stuff; torque etc. What I do know, is
that I have smooth power (much better than the stock 1.9 L) and a very
reliable engine that mechanics are willing to work on, if necessary. I
can pass vehicles that aren't parked. At the moment (and over a couple
of longish trips this summer) it's running so well that it's making me
nervous :-)  The conversion was done by a local guy (now retired) who
did the experimenting on his own 84 Westy --- mine was the 6th
conversion that he did and I'm hoping he got the bugs out. The
conversion is all VW parts (diesel bellhousing etc) and I love it. Not
as much power as a big Subie, but I like to smell the roses as I
travel. I can average 70 mph all day and have, but usually choose not
to. I was talking to a bunch of folks at Bus Fusion this year about
replacing engines --- very few had even the slightest inclination to
put another wasserboxer in. This was my own thinking a few years ago;
why put a brand new 'problematic' wasserboxer in your beloved Westy
when there are very reliable alternatives.

Cheers,
Doug



On 7/1/05, Larry Chase <roadguy@roadhaus.com> wrote:
> Volks,
> 
> The next "Review / Report Page" I want to do is Vanagon Engine Choices.
> 
> I'll model it after the Shops and Tire Review pages, but will also do a
> table that lists all the common approaches in a side by side easy to see
> comparison.
> 
> So .... all you Engine Guru's ... please send me your write ups,
> spreadsheets and other related data and opinions.
> 
> Everyone that has a conversion of some type ... please send me a
> review/report of your engine.
> 
> 
> 
> Larry Chase
> www.roadhaus.com <http://www.roadhaus.com/>
> www.roadhaus.com/shops.html
> www.roadhaus.com/tires.html
>