Date:         Thu, 14 Oct 1999 13:18:07 -0400
Reply-To:     John <johnpatt@WARWICK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John <johnpatt@WARWICK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Audi Tranny in Vanagon...how?  was: Audi V-8 in
              aVanagon...why not?
Comments: To: Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Per Lindgren wrote:

> The Van has enough brakes to go 70mph on flat road, so why couldn't it have
> enough to go 70 mph up the bus breaker pass? I cant see the connection
> here. True, it isn't equipped to go 120+ mph, but that's not what most of
> those people interested in conversions wanna do anyway.
>
V8 & V12 engines are "Elitest Snob" symbols intended mainly for
conspicuous consumption "pissing contests" on the Autobahn or country
club bragging rights. With dwindling oil reserves and congested
roadways, These dinosaurs serve only to distinguish the rich man's ride
from the rest of us. To stuff such an engine in a Vanagon is a gross
insult to the design engineering efficiency of the vehicle.

As for just using the extra power for hill climbing, I'll bet my house
against a doughnut hole that shortly after installing a V8 in a Vanagon,
the FIRST TEST is to see what the top speed is. Only a Buddist monk
could resist the temptation to "crank up" the V8 !


> As I see it, this is personal experience, as Raimund has put in an Audi V6
> in his van! The V8 is just an extended V6, so it doesn't differ that much.

Due to the dimensional limitations of the Vanagon engine bay and the
power limit the body & susp can transmit, the difference between a V6 &
a V8 are roughly the difference between a lightning bug and a lightning
bolt. The two conversions could be vastly different and complex.


> Finally, we must all be mental patients to keep driving in these old vans,
> bottomless money pits that they (sometimes) are.

True our old vans eat some cash but most are now in the 150,000 mile
range and still far cheaper and more interesting than the Eurovan. Also
has anyone noticed what it costs to keep 150,000 mile BMW or Mercedes
running reliable these days. The expense can be "Breathtaking" !

Kind regards,       JP