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Date:         Sat, 1 Aug 1998 09:59:18 -0700
Reply-To:     Ray Hunnam <hunnam@PNC.COM.AU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Ray Hunnam <hunnam@PNC.COM.AU>
Organization: RAYJEN Security
Subject:      Re: ECU Chip Upgrade Info.
Comments: To: Lawrence Dongilli <buspilot@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Comments: cc: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

If anyone wants some info from Vintage Vee Dubs I will go and have a talk with them and get any further info. Then I can email it to the list. I don't live very far from them. Email me direct if you want further info. Take advantage of our low dollar value.

Ray

Lawrence Dongilli wrote:

> What a coincidence....just as I was finding out on my own about performance > enhancing chips for the Vanagon, the topic happens to surface on the list. > I don't know how much information on this topic has changed hands in the > past, as I am new to the list. I apologize if some of this is old news, > but there seems to be little real data on the list right now....and quite a > few questions. > > I have spoken several times over the past few days with a gentleman named > Richard Holzl, of Vintage Vee Dubs in Australia about this chip that he and > his cohorts have developed. Richard passed a lot of data to me. These > folks sounded like they really did their homework. Here are some important > points to consider (while they are still fresh in my head): > > ****Your ECU module part number _must_ end in "022D". The chip will not > work otherwise. > > The chip can be run without rockers for about a 10% power boost, but they > _strongly_ recommended against running rockers without the chip. Yes, you > get a larger power boost but you will end will end up with a _very_ rich > exhaust mixture. Apparently the airbox is 'overstimulated' with the ratio > rockers, and the _stock_ ECU cannot accurately process/calculate the proper > fuel ratios. The engine with the new chip (with/without ratio rockers) > should still pass the sniff test (!). The chip should have sufficient > capacity to handle additional headwork, cam changes and exhaust work (but > to what degree I did not fully explore). Even a three angle valve job > would be a worthwhile improvement. Richard did wisely recommend a valve > spring upgrade if one departs from the profile of the stock cam. They > faxed me a dyno printout (actually, the exact same one scanned in at Kyle > Wade's website) which shows an increase of rear wheel horsepower from about > 58 horsepower (stock) to about 62 horsepower (new chip only). The chip > with ratio rockers (1.4:1 I believe) gives about 85 horsepower at the > wheel. This chip was originally designed to add to their Vanagon Truck > used to tow their race car with tools, spares, etc, with their 'goal' being > a total increase of 10-15%. I guess they made it. > > It seems VW tended to make the Vanagon run _really_ lean......even to the > detriment of power output. Rather than starting out lean and enriching the > mixture like the factory chip, the new chip starts out rich and leans the > mixture out to the proper 15.2:1 stoichiometric ratio. This ends the the > overly lean running condition. Their dyno tests showed a flat spot in the > power curve at 2150 rpm which is also cured with the chip. > > Fuel curves were made by plotting points at 200-500 rpm intervals over top > of a volumetric efficiency graph. Curves are not necessarily a straight > line.....they rise and dip as the rpm rises....reflecting 'sweet spots' > based on volumetric efficiency. > > A 'thirty second' (!) delay to full power condition is > eliminated.....giving instant full throttle response. > > Among the chip designers/programers were actually some insiders to the > original design of the factory chips. > > Chip is socketed (not soldered), so swap should not be any problem. Just > make sure precautions are taken to guard against ESD (electrostatic > discharge). I think he mentioned there may be some sort of foil shielding > to clip through to get to the chip. > > Additional benefits can be realized by adding an impedance transformer (a > genuine VW part available from the dealer) between the ECU and airbox. > > With ratio rockers, I believe Richard said that the pushrods will need to > be replaced with units shortened to 273mm (double check this > number.......so much info....I couldn't write fast enough). > > He also recommended Bosch triple prong plugs, Magnacoil leads. > > Anyway, that is the bulk of the info he gave me. It is as accurate as my > frantic scribbles allow. If you have more questions, you can make an > expensive phone call to Australia and talk to Vintage Vee Dubs at > (011.612.9.789.1777). You can also correspond by FAX at > (011.612.9.718.8704). > > Finally.....prices. For folks like me who _will_ be buying onesies, the > price is $425 (Aussie bucks). This translates into approx. $260 US. If > you buy in quantity, the price takes a pretty good dive......so find some > friends. > > By the way, check out < http://www.clubvw.org.au/index.html >. There is > info about a Race Bug that Richard built called 'Dak To The Future' as well > as a bunch of cool links. > > Regards, > > Lawrence Dongilli


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