Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:02:27 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Decisions,
decisions which conversion-didn't intend to start a power war
In-Reply-To: <cf2.14970f7e.33dad0b3@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
FWIW,
I'm a believer in displacement some. 2.5 liters is 'nice-er' than 1.8, 1.9,
or 2.0 liters, for pushing a big vanagon.
I've often thought a vanagon needed 3 liters and 6 cylinders. ( the 3.3 SVX
is just awesome, more than you really need, and there is a fuel consumption
penalty, but 'it's worth it."
I think the 2.5 Soobie is the nicest combo of power, size, fuel economy.
I'm not so sure the 2,000 an later engines are all that great, but if they
keep running for years or so in vanagons and Syncro's ......sounds good.
They'll deliver 160 to 165 hp, and about 22 mpg, with a top of 24ish....John
Vanaru is saying 26 mpg in a 2WD Westy at 65/70ish.......with a 'new'
cat/muffler combo.
Can't complain about that mpg and power combo.
I haven't seen or driven a Zetec, I'm willing for them to be the cat's
meow.....
I very much like that the opposed four aluminum engine basic layout is what
the Vanagon was designed around - so that makes a soobie a natural. Same
layout, water cooled, advanced over the waterboxer about 10 ways.
Displacement......hate to see 1.8 super charged or turbo gas engines pushing
big vanagon.
2.5 liter is about what they need.
Soobie turbo gas......wow.....300 hp....rip snortin' gas engine.....
Same layout as vanagon has originally......I think one of those ....a turbo
Subaru 4 cylinder.....
Might be an incredibly rewarding gasolier vanagon engine.....and with some
luck hopefully not all that expensive.......and return ok fuel mileage...
And be the opposed for aluminum layout of the original design for vanagon...
I like all these factors.
The 'world engine' , they're fairly bullet proof, you can get them anywhere
of the Zetec is attractive.
If they are absolutely bullet proof, like it's unknown for one to blow a
piston, through a rod, burn a valve, or blow a head gasket.....if they are
that bullet proof, that would carry a lot of weight with me. I love
indestructibility in an engine !
I have seen some soobies blow here and there in vanagons, for no reason
especially, They're nicely made, not indestructible 'sometimes' .....but
pretty good, tendency to leak oil some after 50K......darn nice design and
layout .....a joy to just look at...nice tech on them.
Anyway....advantages and disadvantages to all of them. Right now, for
gasoline, I'm partial to Subaru 2.5 as a nice blend of
attributes.............................., and I'd love to check out a Zetec.
I'm pretty sure it's very nicely thought out, and that counts for a LOT !
Scott
www.turbovans.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Clarkson
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 9:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions which conversion-didn't intend to start a
power war
Hey guys the purpose of my post was not just a comparison of power between
the Subaru 2.5 and the Bostig Zetech but more a comparison of all of the
features for the money invested. Also important to me would be the ease of
installation. I work in the service department of a Honda dealership and
would have
access to a variety of tools lifts etc. I am certainly impressed by the
power
that the subaru 2.5 has overt the Zetech (35 hp difference right) but would
also have to factor in a very useful upgrade to the 3rd and 4th gears that
would benefit the Subaru conversion (Daryl at AA transmission would be great
for
this). Factoring in the cost of this (shipping and opening up the case to
swap out 2 gears) might reduce the difference in price between the two by
another $500.00-750.00 maybe? Maybe the only useful feature that both
engines
could provide that is comparable would be OBD II capabilities. Both have
relatively easy maintenance (timing belt replacement in particular) and I
don't know
if I have heard whether or not the Subi 2.5 is a noninterference engine
like
the zetech or not. I would change the timing belt about every 90-100k if it
were an interference engine to avoid valve damage if the belt did break to
be
safe (BTDT with my Honda customers that like to play the odds!-expensive).
The other features that the zetech has are niceties that would give peace
of
mind and would avoid a total breakdown but are they worth the extra bucks?
The
supercharger is intriguing but is it worth the extra $3,000 which would
bring
the uninstalled price to $13,000+ dollars? It seems that you could go with
the 6 cylinder 3.3 Subaru that has slightly more power for maybe half of
what
you would spend on the Zetech but would still want to upgrade the tranny
and
maybe also the axles as well. I would need to go to the Vanaru site for
more
info here. Don't get me wrong; I love the idea of power for my Westy and
will
start a conversion fund now (mayo jar next to my mgb 8cyl. conversion mayo
jar!). I just want the best combination of not only power but reliability
and
other features in an engine that are important to me like cost of repair
and
availability of parts. I have almost 250k much appreciated miles on my 90
Westfalia now as it's a daily driver and would love nothing more than to
get
that much again. Why not if you love the package and have replaced/rebuilt
everything else on the van. It's still cheaper than a new car
payment/depreciation
and is just much more fun than anything else to drive and camp in. Sorry
for
the lengthy post but lets all keep it friendly and enjoy comparing notes
and
thoughts.
David Clarkson
Loyal fan of the Westfalia/Vanagon
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