Date: Thu, 14 Jan 1999 11:11:13 -0800
Reply-To: AL_KNOLL@HP-ROSEVILLE-OM2.OM.HP.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al Knoll <AL_KNOLL@HP-ROSEVILLE-OM2.OM.HP.COM>
Subject: AC etc for AUDI Swap/H4+lens/reflectors
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="cc:Mail"
Ken mentioned extra $.
I suspect I missed the original price sheet.
What I need to know is:
PS/AC is necessary for me here in the Central Califunia Desert so fully
installed, charged and QA'd and warranteed is on the must list.
I would be of course happy to have Detlev do the work with the corresponding
warrantee on a rebuilt by his shop 2.3l 5cyl.
But what I am most interesed in is the torque curve specs for these various
motors. Here in the great state of California you cannot smog a vehicle that
has a motor whose official date of mfg is older than the model year of the
chassis. No way, no how, illegal etc.
So the kit will I assume include.
Motor as spec'd
Tiddly bits to put it in.
AC/PS kit
Cert of compliance with the CARB law on date of mfg of motor.
I have an 89 syncro and am eagerly awaiting results of the exchange into a
syncro as mentioned by a listmember.
My req's are that the ground clearance and protection bars are not
reduced/removed and that the deck lid/bed cushion can be suitably matched to
provide the semi-palatial sleeping accommodations that I use four weeks out of
the year to ensure my syncrowestie can be considered a vacation home as it's a
class C motor home per califunia spec and I spend more than 3 weeks per year
with it as my primary residence.
Now on to light matters. Light matters, so the objective here with all this
light modif*ckation replacement upgrading is to get a better view at night.
I have used Cibie Z-Beams (7" Round) and Marchal Ampi-lux (7" Round) in the past
and these have excellent beam patterns even with H4 55/60W lamps.
A light is defined as a lens/reflector plus a lamp. Driving lights fog lights
running lights all meet this criterion.
Adding extra candlepower to a poor reflector design is like giving a drunk
several cups of coffee. He's still drunk but now he's wired in addition.
My approach is to select the most suitable lens/reflector for the unusually high
mounting location of the Vanagon headlights that gives a sharp cutoff low beam
to deal with the fog and snow and a properly positioned high beam for out of
town road illumination with the center spot about 0.5deg below horizontal on
high beam.
With a reflector setup like this I can add the relays and select an H4 lamp that
provides the power I'd like.
IMNSHO the current lens/reflector is inadequate from a beam pattern perspective
and therefore mine will be for sale as soon as I have a suitable replacement.
Musts are H4 lamp. Excellent beam pattern with sharp cutoff. If the E1 spec
rectangulars available at exhorbitant prices provide the right combo I might go
with those. But if the lens/reflector design is the same as the inadequate one
that comes stock on US Vanagons this is not an acceptable solution.
If the Hella 200mm rectangulars can be mounted conveniently in the square grille
using of course a modified or new mounting shell this might do.
As I see it the jury is still out on the matter so I'll most likely wait for
some sort of research results.
The vanagon does have the problem of abnormally high light position which makes
dealing with a fixed aiming relationship for most H4 sharp cutoff lights not an
acceptable solution. If any reader has a pair of VG to EX Marchal Ampilux for
sale at under $200US/pr I'll buy. These units have functionality that solves
this problem.
al (dimly through the fog)
