Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2013 11:54:58 -0800
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Jetta Conversion Observations
In-Reply-To: <CA+So780vtu7AZ4-=N0jzEVmEUVYcQaWNFGxrursYZry45k8G5A@mail.gmail.com>
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I'd say similar about mine, nothing to brag about, but minor things are
more to my liking than say a stock motor might be.
Mine is almost like George's..2.0l ('93).ABA with a 1.8liter head and
digifant, set in the van like the diesels were, but I have normal VW engine
mounts and I also have the diesel tranny and bellhousing. I've also done
a custom exhaust system using information gleaned from some of the inline
Tuners who've hotrodded the inlines. I also put in a mild performance
camshaft, so I probably have maybe 20hp more, and the 5 speed tranny
gearing lets me keep in the sweet spot pretty easily. I also like the
very low 1st gear for rough terrain and low traction situations.
I kept my steel wheels too. Best gas mileage I've seen is
~26....normally I see between 20 and 23...
Parts are cheap and available and seldom needed for this
configuration...Haven't done much to this motor since I swapped in the 2.0
liter block about 50k miles ago now. I have no vibration...dunno where
that comes from, though the inline is not as 'sedate' sounding as the WBX,
I guess..
When I was considering a Vanagon I never heard anyone brag about an
inline powered one. Never heard much at all about them, other than how
people didn't like the Tiico ones. Everyone I talked to about them just
drives em, doesn't much discuss them....except me, I kinda rap about mine a
lot online, I guess.
Don Hanson
On Sun, Jan 20, 2013 at 9:34 AM, george jannini <georgejoann@gmail.com>wrote:
> >> let's hear about your jetta conversion.. <<
>
> There is not much, really, to brag about, just minor things. Like I
> don't worry about cylinder heads exploding, or doing frequent water pump
> changes miles from home (twice!) or NLA boxer bits. The engine can pull a
> hill at 5,000 rpm if it has to, and driven conservatively, one should
> expect to get 20 mpg overall. My best mileage figger was 24 something on
> rural 2 lane at 55 mph.
>
> The engine is a nearly stock ABA 2 liter block and 1.8 liter head, with
> Digifant brain. Advertised numbers are 115 hp @ 5400 rpm and 122 lb/ft
> maximum torque @ 3200 rpm. The peak figures aren't all that different than
> for a 2.1 liter boxer - 90hp and 117lb/ft tops Gearing is stock, tires
> slightly oversize 195/14, plain ol' steel wheels.
>
> Engine mounting angle is stock VW and it's "floating" on Mercedes 190
> motor mounts, an extra expense which didn't really change vibration much,
> if I remember correctly. He'll buzz and thrash pretty good pulling high
> RPMs, (a fair amount of intake noise also) but from idle to way past 4,000
> rpm, noise and vibration aren't a bother, although after 12 years I can
> still recall WBX smoooth.
>
> Geo/ATL
>
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