Date:         Sun, 7 Dec 1997 05:51:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Lund <wlund@TELIS.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From:         Lund <wlund@TELIS.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Motor Theory For Dummies
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

There is one company which releases service manuals on CD-ROM.  They do
have ones for the Vanagon from 1985-up.  Can't remenber the name.


My own thoughts on the Vanagon motor:
I have owned four VW vans. One was a 78 Westy with AC. It was a real tank.
I experienced motor meltdown when the rear oil galley plug popped out(a
design flaw which VW will not acknowledge).  The next was a 78 Bus which
was a real fast runner.  My wife made me sell it because she was not happy
with the lack of heat in the winter.  The third was 85 Westy weekender with
MTs.  My biggest conplaint was the lack of power.  My present van is an 88
GL which size and performance wise I am very happy with(my wife loves the
AT and cruise control.)
        AS to the Vanagon motor:
You half to ask yourself why VW put Rabbit engines in the breadloafs down
in Mexico.  Cost and reliabilty I think our the main factors.  With the
Rabbit engine the Vanagon is still underpowered.  I have driven the Kennedy
Engineering Subaru Vanagon and thought it was a great conversion.  Plenty
of power(even with AT).  I am saving my pennies to do this conversion
within the next year.