Date:         Sat, 13 Feb 2016 21:26:27 -0500
Reply-To:     Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: westys & climbing mountain roads
In-Reply-To:  <01df01d166c2$3c550b30$b4ff2190$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I agree about shifting it into 2nd gear on climbing steep grades.  I have
an '86 with the 2.1 and automatic.  I get a sick feeling in my stomach when
my foot is on the floor and the revs drop to below 3500 in 3rd gear.  If
I'm close to the top I might ride it out, otherwise I put it in 2 and hold
the rpm about 4000.  That's easier on the engine and the transmission.  If
you are in 3rd gear at full throttle and the van is slowing down due to the
grade, the torque converter is working hard and the seal on them can be
damaged by excess heat.  Also with the engine spinning faster the water
pump is moving more coolant to the radiator and it should stay cooler.
Edward

On Sat, Feb 13, 2016 at 7:54 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I've got the same van and go over steep passes here in the northwest, and
> Ken's right. You do need to fix the cooling system though, it shouldn't
> overheat when everything is working properly.
>
> The auto tranny needs to be manually shifted down on steep grades. In
> second I can often maintain 45+, but I've had to drop to first more than a
> few times, which is about 30 mph. You can run at up to 5000 rpm, but give
> it a break after a few minutes.  You just have to pull into the slow
> vehicle turn outs, or get off the road if the line behind is more than five
> or six cars. The cool-down will be good for both of you.
>
> Only cure is a Subaru conversion, but transmission pros have told me not
> to go bigger than the 2.2 with the auto.  Bostig conversion is okay too,
> it's the same power profile as the Subie 2.2. At least with one of these
> you can do 60+ in second if needed. That's what a friend of mine says
> anyway, I haven't done the conversion yet.
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Ken
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2016 3:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: westys & climbing mountain roads
>
> Spencer,
>   Forget about making it go faster, it's a VW bus. You
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Spencer Allen
> Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2016 1:09 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: [VANAGON] westys & climbing mountain roads
>
> Hi all. Sitting here in frigged Chicago and dreaming of a summer road trip
> to Colorado in my 85 AUTO westy I shiver thinking about that little 1.9
> fighting it's way up those BIG mountain roads at serious altitude. While on
> the interstates this past HOT summer climbing up some mountains in Tenn and
> Virginia I was barely keeping up with trucks in the slow lanes. By the time
> I reached the top my speed was topping out at around 40 mph with a loud
> knocking noise coming from the engine. Also the temp gauge was in the red.
> Can only imagine what the auto trans fluid temp was. Flatlands, can cruise
> all day at 65-75. Any of you mountain folk got words of wisdom on getting
> up those roads without stacking up traffic a mile behind a "damn VW bus" (
> BTDT.). Never too soon here to think about summer. Have a great winter
> everyone.
> Spencer
>