Date:         Sun, 28 Jun 1998 18:32:13 -0400
Reply-To:     Mark Thoma <TVReporter@STRATOS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Thoma <TVReporter@STRATOS.NET>
Subject:      IT'S ALIVE (and it's a turbo-diesel)
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Hey Volks,
The turbo-diesel is now alive and well in my '82 Vanagon.  It used to make it's home in an '85 Quantum and I bought it from a local VW guy.  The transmission is an '82 5-rib out of an air-cooled vanagon.   A few initial impressions and performance figures...

Top speed / (so far) 75mph!
Comfortable Cruising speed / 65 - 70 mph 
Speed in gears 1st / 18 mph, 2nd / 35 mph, 3rd / 55 mph, 4th / ??
MPG - not available yet, 1st tank of fuel !
Oil pressure @ 220 farenheit @ 65 mph / 50 lb/sq.in.
                  @ 230 farenheit @ 65 mph / 45 lb/sq.in.
Oil pressure @ 220 farenheit @ idle / 15 lb/sq.in.

Maximum oil temperature @ 65 mph @ 85 degrees ambient air temp / 230

The tach isn't hooked up yet so I can't give accurate rpm's at given speed in gears yet, but the turbo diesel with the air-cooled transmission is VERY acceptable it acceleration from a stop and at highway speeds.  I have not encountered a situation yet where I had to downshift to overcome a hill.  I have a SAAB intercooler which I intend to install in the next couple of weeks, so things can only get better, but I'm quite thrilled at this point.  And the beast isn't noisy at all.  I was able to use the stock steel engine lid with a small modification to clear the injector pump, and ditto with the quantum air cleaner/intake system.  More later.

Mark Thoma  
 
  

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