Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:49:08 -0800
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: vanagon engine conversions
In-Reply-To: <921774.78051.qm@web35806.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hey all right.
Nice stuff. Yep, home and alternative fuels are 'the' advantage for sure,
that gasoline can't get. Gasoline depends on 'the man' , the System'
totally, no getting around that.
Corn ethanol is bad news from what I gather. Perhaps they'll switch over
to sugar cane.
Oh......why I wrote.
I have 2 82 style engine cradle bars, left and right. but the middle
brackets have been removed., which I don't consider a major problem.
I'd convert them to solid ends by welding, like 83 bars, then put on
brackets to go to the better larger 83 style rubber mounts. A lot more work
than popping in 82 style bars, but rewarding work and result.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
sam mccarthy
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 8:08 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: vanagon engine conversions
Hey all converters and convertees out there, just had to throw my two cents
in the ring.
So far it seems most of the points to consider have been. I would add
though, in my mind, the one thing the diesel allows that the others don't is
the use of biodiesel fuel. I realize that while ethanol isn't gasoline -
read Oil, Bush Cheney Iraq and all that- ethanol is, and will be for a long
time to come, made of the most inefficient feed stock-----corn.
The biodiesel I use in my Skidsteer loader to make compost is made of waste
vegi-oil and currently goes for $3/gal. The skidsteer is a Gehl with a
German-made Duetz direct injected turbo-diesel (TDI just like the VW TDI I'm
considering putting in place of my jetta inline 4 currently in my 81 Westy)
and it runs better, starts better, uses less fuel, and even has pleasant
smelling exhaust!
I hate diesels too, when I'm behind a big pickup and the exhaust makes my
eyes and my throat and my lungs sting. But Biodiesel solves that, and
anyone who comes to my yard and gets a whiff of the loader can't help but
smile and ask what's going on?
Currently I don't make my own bd but it isn't that hard to do if you have
some time to build the brewer or $ to buy one.
But back to the point.
I don't think there will ever be a perfect engine conversion for the
vanagon. Just choices. I mean, just consider the arguments over what stock
engine vs. other stock engine is best when the factory puts more than one in
a car.
I like my inline 4, 2 liter vw engine just fine. At about 115 to 120 HP it
gets the van moving better than the wbx, gets 23 to 25 mpg at 75 mph and 22
in town. Will go as fast as any traffic, but still have to downshift into
3rd on steep climbs more than I'd like, but it makes a great van engine.
All that I've heard about subie motors and now, lately with all the firing
back and forth here, the zetec sounds great too. But for me I just feel its
time to kick the oil habit as much as possible and the diesel can do that.
Just so you don't think I'm nuts for swapping a perfectly good engine, my 81
westy was rear-ended recently and with the insurance $ I'm working on a
newer body. My advice? keep records of all the $$ you spend on your
conversion as it is very difficult to get the insurance company to consider
the added value to the vehicle when you build it instead of buy the
conversion. Maybe even when you buy it!
btw does anyone have a pair of diesel vanagon engine cradle bars? mine were
bent in the wreck. I have a good diesel radiator as well as other 81 parts.
Sam in Santa Fe
81 westy,
90 carat
84 gl parts/storage
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