Date: Tue, 04 Jun 1996 16:31:53 -0700
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: jwakefield@4dmg.net (john wakefield)
Subject: Re: 5-/6-cyl in VW vans, bell housing numbers
Hi Wouter,
Helmut says the new South African van gear boxes have improved torque
handling to reliably accept the higher 5 cylinder motor loads. Are these
improved torque rated SA Kombi boxes available with 5 speeds? I can
imagine an unhappy situation in which only the four speed like your
father's received the redesign impovement funds, leaving the 5 speed
unimproved and safely applicable only to the 2.1L gas motor. Could you
check into this?
I'd prefer a 5 speed because long high speed travel in the US is
common. The federal high speed divided 4 lane or better highway system
runs all over the US. It's called the Interstate Highway System, or the
Interstate for short. If you had sufficient fuel and a portable toilet,
by switching drivers at speed, two could drive 2000 miles at 70 mph
without stopping, but you'd be passed a lot if you only drove 70. A tall
geared 5 speed is what I want since the Audi six speed would spin
backwards.
Your description of the exhaust system was really interesting and bears
directly on an issue that's been raised concerning installing 5 cylinder
motors into American Westie campers. These have their kitchen and
propane tank mounted on the left side. I don't know if this descriptive
standard is also used in SA, but here, vehicle left and right terms
always assume a view from the driver's seat.
You said, "(Of course the sliding door is on the left hand side of the
vehicle.)" "Of course" to you perhaps, but not so "of course" to
American readers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that drivers
travel on the left side in SA, whereas they travel on the right side in
the US. So VW, following the prudent practice of selling vans in local
markets with their side sliding door on the curb (kerb) side, would have
placed it on the left side in the SA market and on the right side in the
American market, just as they did. Naturally, the propane tank, which is
close under the floor board under the kitchen in the American camper is
placed right where your SA style exhaust system's box changes flow
direction. The comment was made that US Westie owners should forget
about running the 5 cylinder conversion because this exhaust
configuration would run too close to the propane tank. So I'd thought
I'd just relocate the propane tank, but now your description changes
that. I'd definately prefer to run the exhaust to the curb side and keep
the two plastic water drains and the under-kitchen propane tank just as
they are. Your excellent description was most illuminating. Does it
sound to you as though I've made any bad logical connections in this?
You said "The (standard audi looking) manifold feeds two downpipes,
which then goes to the rear of the audi, or the front of the kombi.
Everything looks stock up to the point where these two pipes feed into
the Y." It surely does sound like Audi/VW decided not to spend any
research money on developing another set of exhaust manifolds for these
installations. But then, perhaps it was decided that having the exhaust
exit the manifolds at the rear would obstruct rear motor service access
and still not provide enough room. The naturally aspirated gas motor's
plumbing is messy enough. Contemplating the addition of a turbo and
inner cooler really brings visions of a plumbers' convention.
Thanks for all your help,
John Wakefield
After that a single pipe runs to the front of the kombi and> does a U
turn into a box hanging approx. under the sliding door. (Of course> the
sliding door is on the left hand side of the vehicle) From the box the>
return pipe runs parallel to the feed pipe, to a second box next to the>
engine, and out via the cutout in the rear panel. Looks pretty easy to
weld> up, and I would assume that the boxes are chosen for fit, i.e.
eyeball the> space, select a box from the shelf.
>
> CU
>
> W
> --
> Wouter de Waal Phone : +27 21 683 5490
> Development Engineer Fax : +27 21 683 5435
> CCII Systems
> Kenilworth, South Africa
|