Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 21:21:57 -0700
Reply-To: GMac999 <gmac999@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: GMac999 <gmac999@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: BusFusion Bound Trip Report #04
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
David,
I didn't see if you stated what year you had, but I have a '84 GL and
a '91
Carat, neither a Westy. I do know the difference between the two is
night
and day. With the lower skirts, a slightly lower ride height and the
smoother mirrors, the Carat is considerably quieter than the GL.
Even after
I've added Dynamat to the GL's doors, sides, roof and front end, it's
still
noisier than the Carat. The Carat is a lot more stable in windy
conditions
than the GL, although neither is as stable as a car. There's just
too much
surface area for the wind to work against.
Right now I'm looking for a rust bucket Carat with all the lower
skirts in
place to move over to my GL. I'll let the list know how that turns
out.
Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
Behalf Of
David Kao
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 10:43 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: BusFusion Bound Trip Report #04
I admit that I admire what Benny is saying about his subi engine. But
on top
of that amazing performance there are still many issues of Vanagon
that are
not solved by any engine conversion.
My recent trip to Yosemite National Park with my rebuild engine
brought up a
lot of these issues besides the one associated with engine
performance.
The vangon is very lousy driving against head wind. Very noisy and
ver poor
handling. It made me slow down regardless if the engine was capable
of going
faster. It made very little difference the windows were closed or
open.
Radio was shut off. It added noise only but not music. Noise from
wheel
bearings and CV joints were over whelmingly loud. Speed would make it
only
worse.
I am concerned that if I decide to go for a conversion and get
whatever
power it gets the other issues of vanagon will be there still. That
would
probably ruin all the fun to be faster. It's easy to get a taste of
speed
you are talking about. Just drive down a long stretch of hilly
highway. It's
easy to get to 80 MPH. But it will too make you face all other issues
of
Vanagon immediately. This is particularly true for westy because
westies are
noiser.
I have not made up my mind. But I am saving money. I will decide
between a
late year Eurovan camper or a souped up westy with a subi. At the
moment the
old beast gets quite some negatives against it. What do you volks
think?
David
--- Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA> wrote:
> He he he... men, you don't have any idea how close we could have
met
> again!!! Good storry!!!
> It was my plan to go there this weekend, but i ended up in New
> Brunswick (weather wise), just south of where you are and of
course, i
> had to end up in PEI.
>
> So that is... 1677 miles in 5 days, ha ha ha, me CraSy! We had a
blast
> me and Sylvia FOR THE FIRST TIME ALONE this year, yea, a real Westy
> short road trip in my Red Tornado Subaru powered van, the first
one...
> YESSSSSSSSSSS, men i'm sold for life to that engine!!!! Yea,EX: if
> you have 600km
> (372miles) to go at 122 kmh (3821rpm OBD2 check) (75mph GPS), it's
6
> hours and not 7 or 8. Only today, we left this late morning the
Fundy
> National park and i was home at 7:30pm, that is about 625 miles.
>
> Top cruising speed was around 93mph, average was 72mph, some cool
> running at 65mph, fuel... well, all i know is that i did between
> 260-300 miles on 1 tank, about the same as a 2.1L in good shape or
> better. But remember, average speed was 72mph (GPS)
>
> The funny thing is we did 3 National park in 4 night, Kouchibouguak
in
> NB, Prince Edward National Park in Cavendish and the Fundy National
Park
in NB..
>
> Damn, Canada can be nice!!!!!! Ho Canadaaaaaaaaa....
>
> Good Fourth of July to you guys!
>
> A lot of pictures to come.
>
> Benny
> http://www.benplace.com/
>
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