Date:         Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:14:55 -0800
Reply-To:     chris and/or ruth <populuxe59@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         chris and/or ruth <populuxe59@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      The real story about the invention of the WBX?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Don't remember exact numbers, but running a water pump uses less horse power than running the fan to cool the relatively small displacement, low HP engine.  A 10% increase is a big deal. This was stated in a car mag in their report on the new powered Vanagon in 1983.  Maybe a dedicated list member could Google it...
Not sure if this was the reason, do 1.9 Vanagons have much more power than the air cooled?  I'm a VW noobie (8 years), not steeped in the rich tradition and lore of VW history.  Still doesn't explain why they didn't go to a in-line 4.  I'm sure there's more to this story.
 
Chris C
90 Mv
 
-----------------------------------Jens Jakob wrote:--------------------
So my basic question to this list -      does anyone know about why
VW decided to create the WBX, instead of changing to inline-4 in 1983?


Here is what I have found so far:
"The switch to water-cooling for the boxer engines was made abruptly
mid-year in 1983 because VW could no longer make the air-cooled
engines meet emissions standards"




Happy driving


Jens Jakob