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Date:         Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:50:53 -0700
Reply-To:     Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Decisions..
Comments: To: Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <5c80974c0707281256v3e5aef70r962cb668641a43f8@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Us old slow guys still have our moments Suds. :-)

On 7/28/07, Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@gmail.com> wrote: > > Dammit Jake... I was going to say that... (and then I scrolled down in > the gmail thread :P ) > > Sudhir > > On 7/28/07, Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote: > > Boy, you guys don't communicate very well sometimes. > > > > Not 200 more HP Jim, more than 200 HP. > > > > Settle down eh? :-) > > > > On 7/28/07, Jim Akiba <syncrolist@bostig.com> wrote: > > > > > > Ben, 200 more HP out of the 2.5 without forced induction? Dude I'd be > MAD > > > impressed if you could, it would be very difficult, and certianly > wouldn't > > > be a streetable setup anymore. The only way possible I can think of > would > > > be to either spray it, or build it to wind out to 11 grand. How were > you > > > thinking? > > > > > > Ricardo, a buddy of mine that runs a tuning outfit in CA has been > racing > > > with a zetec built to do this for the last year. They are going to > compete > > > in some pri world challenge circuit this year too.. but they are > putting > > > 280HP to the wheels and winding out to 12K rpm... it's like a huge > > > motorcycle engine! Of course not usable for a van, but pretty sweet > > > non-the-less. Cosworth sells a race prepped zetec like that for around > > > $35k, > > > he can do it for $18k.. of course he doesn't have the name. > > > > > > Jim Akiba > > > > > > On 7/28/07, Benny boy <huotb@videotron.ca> wrote: > > > > > > > > It look like a paid advertisement! funny! > > > > > > > > You are funny Robert, but i like you. > > > > > > > > As for power.... > > > > > > > > Do you need a another video, i can make one. > > > > > > > > The 2.5 is amlmost scary, at least mine. > > > > > > > > As for reliability, well, we are still driving a 20 year old van, > > > anything > > > > can go wrong. > > > > > > > > Today, i have seen an old 2.2 Subaru conversion harness, scary, > today > > > 2.5 > > > > harness as nothing to do with the old stuff, as for the cooling line > and > > > > system, it's simply 10 time better than the original OEM vw design. > This > > > > is > > > > normal 20 years later. > > > > > > > > The 2.5L at 170hp or so can produce way more power very easily, it > was > > > > kept > > > > down for reliability, i can get more than 200 hp easily out of that > > > > engine, > > > > no Turbo, no nothing... > > > > > > > > Cheers, Ben > > > > > > > > On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:45:40 -0700, Robert Keezer < > warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM > > > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > >I think to understand the Zetech conversion, it > > > > >is best done by seeing it with your own eyes, > > > > >and by your own seat-of-the-pants experience: > > > > >driving it. > > > > > > > > > >I will not need a dyno test comparison to help > > > > >make a decision between Subaru and Zetech. > > > > > > > > > >They differ in ways that can't be measured by > > > > >dynamometers. And, since they are not equal, they > > > > >can't be compared fairly. So what's the point? > > > > > > > > > >Your point of decision for any conversion must be > > > > >upon seeing and driving the vanagon and the > > > > >engine conversion of your choice first , if you > > > > >want to be happy with it. Numbers and data alone > > > > >aren't enough for me. I got to drive it. > > > > > > > > > >The Zetech Ford looks like an inline -four , > > > > >because it is. Inlines have a bad rap in some > > > > >places because of (you know who), and yet my 2.0 > > > > >Jetta has not let me down after 216,000 miles. > > > > >Gee, I'm on the third water pump already. > > > > > > > > > >The inline -four Diesel was an original VW > > > > >Vanagon engine and most have said that VW should > > > > >have did the gas inline too. And noiw many want a > > > > >inline Diesel, the TDI etc. > > > > > > > > > >One look at the Bostig Zetech conversion up > > > > >close, and you are curious already. > > > > > > > > > >By the time you lay the pedal down flat you know > > > > >you don't really need more than this. > > > > > > > > > >It was so powerful on ,my test drive that even if > > > > >my '95 Jetta engine was brand new I would have > > > > >declined to race a Zetech. > > > > > > > > > >I was afraid to open it up all the way because > > > > >this is urban Boston . I would think the cops > > > > >woould take notice of a Vangon defying the laws > > > > >of VW Vanagon physics. > > > > > > > > > > I won't try to make comparisons. The Zetech > > > > >engine is something I would have done if > > > > >1. They were available in 1995 > > > > >2.I did'nt have a Diesel Vanagon > > > > >3. I had the money. > > > > > > > > > >Albeit the kit is not cheap, but then there is no > > > > >reason why you can't do it yourself . It helps if > > > > >you can tig weld, and you have engineering > > > > >skills, as well as the ability to quickly > > > > >assemble the wiring loom in 15 minutes as I > > > > >watched Jim Akiba do (ok , maybe a little longer > > > > >than that) > > > > > > > > > >I think that for the amount of effort they have > > > > >put into this unique conversion they designed, > > > > >the money spent is not that much if you consider > > > > >that it's the cost of about two WBX installs 3-4 > > > > >years apart which is not exactly unheard of in > > > > >these parts. > > > > > > > > > >COst is an issue for many of us but then this is > > > > >a fledgling industry only 2 years old. > > > > > > > > > >As I mentioned earlier, I am an old VW skeptic > > > > >.And I was a Bostig skeptic. > > > > > > > > > >How can you not like these guys after you meet > > > > >them? And get the t-shirt? > > > > > > > > > >If you are also a skeptic, seeing this conversion > > > > >first hand will make it hard for you to resist > > > > >liking it. Did I forget to say this kit looks > > > > >incredibly factory? Factory engine yes, but the > > > > >rest of the items that are Bostigs look very > > > > >factory good indeed. > > > > > > > > > > No one accept dukes of hazard types would say > > > > >that VW screwed up by not offering a V-8 engine > > > > >in the bus. > > > > > > > > > >VW dared to be different and got away with it. > > > > > > > > > >Bostig's Zetech has dared to be different and has > > > > >designed a conversion motor kit for the Vanagon > > > > >that has to be seen and driven to be appreciated. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Robert > > > > > > > > > >1982 Westfalia > > > > > > > > > >Note: this is not a paid advertisement. This is > > > > >not even and unpaid advertisement. All personal > > > > > experiences described here are mine and not that > > > > >of an actor or stunt double. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >--- David Clarkson <Dvdclarksn@AOL.COM> wrote: > > > > > > > > > >> 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 > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> ************************************** Get a > > > > >> sneak peek of the all-new AOL at > > > > >> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ > > > > >Need a vacation? Get great deals > > > > >to amazing places on Yahoo! Travel. > > > > >http://travel.yahoo.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Jake > > 1984 Vanagon GL > > 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie" > > www.crescentbeachguitar.com > > >

-- Jake 1984 Vanagon GL 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie" www.crescentbeachguitar.com


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