Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2007 09:11:24 -0400
Reply-To: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
Subject: Re: BusFusion Bound Trip Report #04
Mmm... Interesting post David.
Wile comming back yesterday i had some crasy wind (side and head over 50
mph)), storm, rain and almost snow :-), i have an 85 and i kept the higher
springs, i have 15in wheel and very good Continental Vanco, my van like you
may know was completly rebuilt underneath mechanically, including all
steering, brakes and suspension components, my van does handle very well at
speed over 70 in heavy wind condition. Not that i would go higher than 75 in
those condition. Even i had to slow down sometime to 65. What i'm trying to
say is that of course, if you put a bigger/stronger engine, the rest need to
follow as best as it can!
EX: my van lock all 4 wheels if i press that brake pedal hard! Why,
everything is new including the lines. I never thought that the braking
system of a vanagon could be so good. But on most van, it simply to hold or
out of shape.
As for wind noise, i agree, the little windows deflectors do help but a
vanagon is noisy, me, i don't care.
The wind and rain were so strong yersterday that on some big hill, even the
Subi (with the higher fourth) was working very hard with max speed of 65.
It's an heavy van, and mine was loaded to the bone. So of course the engine
is NOT everything, before an engine upgrade, a van should be put in mint
condition mechanically. Or this one could become a dangerous vehicle. I had
to brake hard 3 time in that trip, the first being for a Moose! second for a
Deer and third for a stupid driver (dummer than a Moose!). Also, i was a Bus
(1973, 1979) driver before, so for me, Vanagon are way up there compare to
the old Bus's. Tire and higher wheels help a lot.
The only down side of my Van:
The trany higher fourth gear is great for freeway, but not the best on long
steep hills, a 5 speeds trany would be perfect, but i can live with that flaw.
Still, it is quite something to do 1600 miles and NOT worry about the engine
temps, noise, power, glitch, leaks.... and so on.
Regards, Ben
On Mon, 2 Jul 2007 20:42:42 -0700, David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>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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