Date:         Sun, 4 May 2008 02:15:53 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Buick V6 powered Vanagon
In-Reply-To:  <ccafde090805021124n7a39a0c8x25b8f6b5029fd0c0@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed

>  > My neighbor in NC had a Buick V6 in his Vanagon and it was a pretty clean
>>  installation.  I know the engines are everywhere and pretty low priced.  And
>>  I know Keh has the adapter.  The only down side (that I know of) is that it
>>  sticks up and the engine lid has to be modified.
>  > Robert
>
>That would be KEP who has the adapter, right?

KEP indeed.

>The GM 3800 V6 is supposed to be one of "the 10 best engines of the 20th
>century"

What planet do they live on? It's a heavy iron boatanchor with
pushrods. Not exactly a BAD engine, but low-tech.

>"Matthew Snook" <matt@SNOOKSBAND.COM> said:
>>  My Dad loves those cars.  Swears he's getting over 30 mpg all the time - he
>>  puts in a lot of miles every year.  He keeps a lookout and buys them
>>  whenever there's a good deal, like $800 for the whole car.  Gives them to
>>  whichever of his grandkids is needing a car, or whatever.  If the sedan gets
>>  30+, what would a Vanagon get? :)

There is only ONE way to know your consumption. Every time you fill
the tank, do so to the exact same level and record the odometer and
volume. I used to do this for my various bikes, cars & vans. I got
30mpg (imperial) once in my 1970 Crown coupe with Chev 5.4 at an
80mph cruise, but that was a fluke (aided by a Toyota Corona 5-speed
and 2.79 diff). There is no way a Buick V6 will get better than
lowest 20s, and that's in a car. You cannot "guesstimate" consumption.

Mt 84 Caravelle had a 1990 Holden VL Comodore 3.8 V6 in it when I
bought it. Thie engine is NOT a Buick V6, but an Aussie-made
redesign. It performed pretty well but sucked gas at best, including
highway driving. It was bolted to the 5-speed 094 trans, which had
overdriven NZ-made 4th & 5th gears. The trans' front main bearing
failed about 4 months after I bought the beast.

>If there's so many of the GM< 3800 Series II around, maybe they
>could be used to kill the Subie Vultures that are circling my house
>and the 83 Van.  I know front a streetrod point of view, I've heard
>they're good engines.  Sure beats the price for a Subie.

A 3.3 Subie will leave a GM 3.8 for dead (an extra 65hp or so)...
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
‚ Opinions stated are mine, not those of Otago University
"There is water at the bottom of the ocean"  - Talking Heads