Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 14:55:08 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: can you put 17 inch wheels on a 84 vanagon?
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sounds like a stalled out project.
stock hp on a 3.,3 SVX Subaru engine is 230 hp- 250 I'm sure possible with a
Link system ..........
though if it's not 'here at the van' yet and not installed.............
hey, I've heard guys yakin' about Megasqirt, and I got the impression it
wasn't too expensive either.
I'd probably just modify vanagon shift linage to work. Even for a 5 speed.
I don't think it would be that hard even.
But I weld and have boxes of oddball what-nots and parts from all kinds of
cars to work from too. Half the time when I need something for an engine
coversion thing, I just make it. Or adapt something.
'ran out of money due to mismanagement' ........lol. Nice way to put it.
Get that thing running........THEN keep modifying a running van as time and
money allow,
but do whatever you want of course.
I just love building them up one stage at a time........
first you get a working engine and trans mounted in the body/chassis.
then you get clutch and shift linkage working.......
then you just keep going ...........cooling system, engine management,
exahaust system etc.
and sure, sometimes if you make someting that's not 'the, the best' at
first............you spend more time in the end re-doing that to the final
spec, but ..........this is me personally...........but having something
that runs and needs upgrading and improvements, is more fun and rewarding
than something that can't even run or move.
For engine covnersions I always advocate moving as directly as possible to
having it running.
Even that can take a LOT sometimes...............
whether it's gettting glitches out or whatever.........
then, after I have something that fundamentally works and runs.......then I
do special oil pans, modify the suspension, get the AC and tachometer
working etc.
learned this a long time ago : "Incompletion drains energy."
that is, the more that is not done, the behinder you feel, and the more
discourageing it gets, and the more it seems like it will never get done.
But when you can turn that key ..........
and it can move around on it's own, even if there are 150 things yet to do
........it feels great ..........you have a 'running awesome conversion with
issues' rather than a pile of parts that 'maybe someday' will be an awesome
engine conversion.
I might even run them with no exahsust system, just to confirm that it can
run........then the next step is real simple.........build the exhsut system
on. I like to do them so they evolve from one step to the other.
That's how race cars are built - first the chassis...........then
suspensioin..........that gives you a 'roller' .........then you put in the
engine and trans.......
and just keep going.
'fraid to price them..........but I'd love to find some 911 porsche-based
auto trans.........
and I already know about the 911 4 speed manaul 'auto stick shift
'.......they called it 'sportmatic' ............you still have to shift
every gear with the lever, but no clutch pedal - would love to put one of
those in a vanagon. Nice high gearing too would be an expected wonderful
major benefit too. I gotta work on that !
I need a cheap dead 911 with one of those transmissions in it.
anyway...........it's all fun !
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Grebneff" <goose1047@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2008 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: can you put 17 inch wheels on a 84 vanagon?
> On Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 1:44 PM, The Westy man <thewestyman@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>> Andrew,
>> What 250 hp are you talking about. Did I miss something? Did you
>> finally
>> assemble that Porsche engine and transmission you were talking about
>> years
>> ago?
>> Zoltan
>
> Hi Zoltan
>
> The Subaru EG33 engine I'm using. This and the Porsche trans were
> installed some time ago (QUITE some time ago!), but I ran out of money
> due to my mismanagement...
>
> There's a well-baffled short stainless winged sump which needs a
> dipstick tuve added.
>
> So to get the van drivable (if not legal) I still need to have a Link
> management system installed and the cooling system (probably need a
> new radiator and fan too), as well as stainless pipes) and throttle
> connected.
>
> To get it USABLE I'll need a stainless extractor exhaust made up (no
> point paying to have a custom rustable extractor made!) and adapt the
> shifter... for this last I have two options:
> 1) Buy a used Porsche 965 shifter tower at horrendous cost and a new
> shortshift kit at a rather less horrendous
> price, then modify the shift rod... and still have a long-throw
> and wobbly long shif lever
> 2) Make a raised console and fit a nice (eg 1987 Toyota Corolla)
> shifter and make up a cable mechanism... fiddly
>
> The to get it LEGAL I'll need the suspension parts I have just paid
> for from an ad in TheSamba, so that I can fit my Porsche brakes and
> have the modifications certified.
>
> So I'm getting there slowly... I just snagged a set of really cheap
> fiberglass bumpers and side moldings too, and am thinking about a set
> of H&R springs (I'd go for race springs, but they're not available for
> T3s... yet). Prices for these are as low as $210 if you shop around,
> saving at least $100 on the manufacturer's price.
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