Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 19:31:45 -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: Power output of actual vans? (long)
In-Reply-To: <006c01c7d177$bbed1a20$6401a8c0@TOSHIBALAP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I think it is the same as the Euro version California that Whittaker posted
recently. No real luggage rack, more of a fairing for the closed top.
On 7/28/07, Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
> That fuel mileage is excellent for a gasoline vanagon !
> I faired the top of my westy roof rack over smooth.
> Haven't noticed anything, but I also don't drive it as my daily driver
> either, or much anyway.
>
> I think I saw, somewhere, maybe this is what you did, or what a euro westy
> has.....
> They just smoothed it in a fairly straight line from the front of the roof
> to where the pop top forward edge is. No attempt to retain a front roof
> rack.
>
> Is that what you did ?
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> John Reddick
> Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2007 4:54 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Power output of actual vans? (long)
>
> I have always thought the front fiberglass portion of the Westy was
> responsible for a lot of drag/wind noise. Passenger vans are far quiter,
> and get 2 mpg better mileage on the highway. I finally got around to
> finishing my modified front section. I saw a genuine European Westy with
> one. It must have been available at some point there. I also saw some
> wind
> tunnel results for Vanagons. .44 for the stock van, .50 for the Westy,
> with
> the front really throwing up turbulent air all the way from the front.
> I drove about 1000 miles to the High Country Bus campout.
> Unfortunately,
> due to some really bad traffic jams, I don't have any good numbers for MPG
> improvements. I was hoping for 8% at 65 mph, with better results at higher
> speeds. It is definitely getting better mileage, but I can't verify how
> much. I can't verify the noise either, as it was 90+ degrees and I was
> driving with the windows down.
> Hopefully the drive home will allow for better results with less
> traffic/wind effects.
> The worse mileage I got was 25.8 MPG, which includes almost 2 hours
> in
> a jam in Raleigh due to an accident. Other than that, there was minimal
> wind. that was on a 311 mile run from souther NC. I kept the speed at
> 65-70
> the rest of the time.
> Ir really like the idea of closing off the bottom of the van. Cheap
> and easy, and might also reduce road noise.
>
> John
> 87 Westy 2wd MT
> .70 4th
> 2002 EJ25 Subaru
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
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