Date:         Sat, 28 Jul 2007 15:01:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Decisions..
In-Reply-To:  <ac1f198b0707281115q27e8518maa6a5cfa6e26348@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Ben Hout wrote:

> It look like a paid advertisement! funny!
>
> You are funny Robert, but i like you.

No , not paid. I am relieved to hear that you
like me , though. I was sweating it out their for
a while.

Just to make you feel better, I did ride in a
SVX. But I was SCARED in that ride.

Since I don't like to get my blood pressure up ,
or set-off Washington State Patrol radar guns,
The power in the Zetech Vanagon is just right me
and I think for most Vanagon drivers.

Note I did'nt say racetrack drivers!

Cheers-

Robert

1982 Westfalia
















--- 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/
> >
>




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