Date:         Mon, 27 Jul 1998 10:48:02 +0000
Reply-To:     "Rick Sherrod (Certifiable VW mech)" <kdf_cars@MYLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Rick Sherrod (Certifiable VW mech)" <kdf_cars@MYLINK.NET>
Organization: Specialty Automotive
Subject:      V6 Vanagon on the road-finally
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

So the TranSportster has been on the road for about two weeks now.  It has been a long
road, as I'm sure that all of you can understand.  Most would simply never have attempted
such an involved engine swap, and certainly would have started with a newer vehicle that
didn't need brakes, interior, paint, bodywork, A/C, stereo, etc.  Certainly doing this project
was not one of my wiser moves.

All that aside, I am in love.  It is even quirkier than the stock Vanagon, if you can imagine
that.  There still needs to be some work with the computer (it sets the check engine light
while coasting), which will have to wait until fall when the Chevy dealer is not swamped with
dead and dying Chevies.

There is some minor vibration at low RPM.  I suspect it is due to my odd motor mount
location.  More work later, it is serviceable now.  I towed a Terramite T5C with an equipment
trailer about 35 miles up and down very steep hills back and forth from my shop.  The T5C
is a small bucket loader that I believe outweighs the Vanagon, then add the weight of the
trailer.  There was some slight sway down hills, but I kept the speed under 60mph so there
was no immediate peril of death.  Trailer brakes are a must.

On some of the taller, steeper hills I had to downshift to 3rd yet still maintained 50mph.
If it were a regular Wasserboxer It would certainly have been  2nd  at 30mph or even lower.
Towing a car behind on the tow dolly, it is easy to forget that there is a car back there,
unless you are paranoid like I am (I constantly glance in my mirror while I drive).

The webpage has no updated photos for now.  It seems that I am extremely busy and
won't have time for a little while, trying to get my shop back into service after this
enormous project.  I will post here when the update is done.
--
Rick Sherrod, Certifiable VW mech.
Macon, GA     kdf_cars@mylink.net
http://www.mylink.net/~kdf_cars

82 Ex-Diesel V6 Vanagon project 'Trans Sportster 3.1' (his)
http://www.mylink.net/~kdf_cars/v6van1.html