Date:         Tue, 9 Jul 2019 10:49:36 -0400
Reply-To:     Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Why the preponderance of air-cooled on Marketplace?
In-Reply-To:  <C45B4813-1E6B-4A78-AFF5-AC31019216C5@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Well, the only way I'd even consider on of these AC vans would be to
convert it to a more powerful
power plant.  But the lack of a radiator makes this a bit difficult.   I'm
sure it's been done many times
over.  But is it worth the cost?   To each their own....

Steven
91 Westy


On Tue, Jul 9, 2019 at 5:53 AM JR-Comcast <kayakjr@comcast.net> wrote:

> My take is that most owners wanted a Vanagon and didn’t realize how slow
> they truly are.
> I had an AC 81 Westy and rebuilt the engine, had the final adjustments
> done by a local VW shop with an emphasis on AC engines and they pronounced
> it as “having plenty of power”.
> I excitedly jumped in and drove home figuring it would be markedly faster
> than my trip there. It wasn’t.
> On flat roads, it was fine. When there was a truck lane it was fine.
> On an uphill, limited visibility on-ramp, it was downright deadly.  A semi
> is not going to slow down, then here’s another one a few hundred feet
> later, you don’t have enough room to get in and get up to some sort of
> speed.
> I found in back roads, since every car has lots of power today, they have
> no idea why you are “choosing” to drive so slow.
> At one time you could buy a perfect AC Vanagon Westy for $6,500. And I
> mean really perfect-i knew of one that had over twice that money dumped
> into it, perhaps 3x, that was a candidate ripe for conversion.
> Still, I enjoyed rebuilding my engine, and they are simple and I know
> people who have them and love them.
> John
>