Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 12:53:41 -0700
Reply-To: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Diesel in California and what I really want.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hey all,
Some of you know me from way back when and I pipe
up from time to time. But that is irrelevant.
For some time now I've been pondering an engine
replacement as my 1990/91 Westy approaches 200,000
miles. I've read good things about the Subaru and
good things about the TDI and other diesel trans-
plants. Ideally my preference would be some kind
of hybrid with an automatic transmission but I
think, at best, that that is out of the question
and financially un-reachable. And wouldn't I
like to have an SVX or Porsche 6 cylinder pushing
my box at 80+ mph down the interstate and watch
my travel times shorten substantially.
But yesterday, I spoke with one of the California
Smog BAR representatives that was their most
experienced gurus on engine replacement. I was
pleasantly suprised to hear from him that California
did indeed allow for diesel conversions still as
long as it was a newer engine for light class trucks
or cars. Now this is still a bit premature for me
to celebrate, but it sure sounds promising. He gave
me a number for a referee to discuss specifics if
and when I needed to.
So what I'm getting at here is that I feel that I'm
going to be able to do this transplant and not get
dinged by the referee when I go to get an inspection.
This is very contrary from what I've been reading
about on this list about diesels in Calfornia. Has
anyone on the list actually done a recent conversion
in CA and survived the smog inquisition?
Now beyond that, I'd really like to have a TDI trans-
plant with an automatic transmission. Traffic is
just getting too annoying with a standard tranny and
I'd really like to give my left calf and foot a break.
I know there was some discussion about this a few
moons ago and that there was some expensive gear
that had to be installed to make up for the difference
in the ratios. Was there a group purchase? Has
there been any successful completed projects with
automatic transmissions mated to a diesel TDI?
Thanks for letting me ramble...
Steven
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