Vanagon EuroVan
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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
Comments: To: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
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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