TheSamba.com :: View topic - Vanagon 30-50 challenge

Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:45 pm

Folks,

Are you up for a challenge? Well, this would not be a competition or but an attempt to get baseline figures of performance for different Vanagon types, engines, mods, years etc.

It's quite simple if you want to participate.

1. Make sure your vehicle is reasonably empty.
1. Find a flat section of road (no cheating).
2. Get in 3rd gear at 30 mph.
3. Time full-throttle acceleration to 50 mph with a stop watch.
4. Reply to this post with the following (I'll use my Westy as an example):

Year: 1984
Type: Westfalia
Time: 11 s
Engine: 1.9L WBX DG
Miles on engine: 170K
Engine mods: None
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: 1/2 full
Tires: 195R14

Chris S.

I've added a web page here: http://www.knology.net/~vw/30-50challenge.htm

P.S. Try at your own risk. I'm not responsible for any blown engines, accidents or disappointments. Death or serious injury may occur.

Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:59 pm

I'm game. But my motor is still on the ground. Hope to have it back in the next week or so.

Marc

Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:53 pm

Auto-shifting Transmission here. I could do the same test, just let the transmission kick down as it wants to.

I could do it, that is, if my Westy wasn't in the shop!!! :wink:

Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:59 pm

I recently went from 70 to 0 in about 10 seconds rolling and sliding drivers side down. Does that count?

Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:19 pm

:shock:

Yes, or at least it should.

Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:48 pm

pinks ____ :twisted:

Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:11 pm

I'm in...
(30 MB)
http://www.benplace.com/subaru/subi2.wmv

Cheers, Ben

Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:58 pm

I read this and couldn't resist. So i gave it a try tonight.

Year: 1990
Type: Vanagon
Time: 8.2 s
Engine: 2.1L WBX
Miles on engine: ~60K
Engine mods: None
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: 1/4 full
Tires: 185R14

Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:27 pm

Gotta establish the baseline:

Year: 1982
Type: Vanagon
Time: never, not in 3rd gear
Engine: 1.6 NA diesel
Miles on engine: ~15K
Engine mods: None
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: full
Tires: 185R14

I'll try the Westy tomorrow. Then later when it has the JX engine I can compare.

Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:34 pm

If I can do 10 sec going up a slight grade with this ratty old rig, others should do way better. This was with two people and a hundred and fifty pounds of gear. I would guess my 91 with a Suby would do it in six if not five seconds.

Year: 1983 1/2
Type: 7 passenger
Time: 10 sec pulling a 1% grade
Engine: old ratty VW rebuild, likely a 2.1
Miles on engine: unknown
Engine mods: Moderate compression but bad leak down, either the rings are shot or there is damage to the pistons and/or cylinders
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: 1/2 full
Tires: 195R14

Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:30 pm

My van:

Not exactly to scale.

Year: 1984
Type: Wolfsburg 7-pass
Time: 6.5s (not quite full throttle but givin' it the beans)
Engine: 2.2l Subie
Miles on engine: No idea
Engine mods: Engine swap, aftermarket air filter
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: Shifter extension xD
Fuel tank: 1/2 full
Tires: 225/60/16

Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:24 pm

Here is a result from the Vanagon email list:

Year: 1987
Type: Westfalia (extra 150lbs of junk inside)
Time: 8.5s (alt. 500 ft. above sea level)
Engine: 2.0l VW Inline-4 1997 (Eurospec like Tiico)
Miles on engine: 20k
Engine mods: none
Trans: 4-sp manual; 1.225 3rd (stock)
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: 1/4 full
Tires: 185R14

Sat Jul 12, 2008 6:19 pm

This was just too fun to pass up...

Year: 1985
Type: Westfalia full camper with various add-ons
Time: ~5 to 6 seconds (no stopwatch, just off of a standard watch)
Engine: Volkswagen 1.8T
Miles on engine: ~50K
Engine mods: APR chip, custom 2.5" exhaust
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: 1/4 full
Tires: 215/75 R15

When I pick up a stopwatch, I'll try for a more accurate time.

Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:26 pm

Interesting comparison!

You have put your finger on a real world driveability comparison.

My numbers:

Year: 1985
Type: Westfalia full camper
Time: average about 4.25 seconds
Engine: Subaru 3.3L DOHC flat six
Miles on engine: 72K
Engine mods: Stock; headers (for ground clearance)
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: 1:13 3rd; .70 4th (as I recall)
Fuel tank: full
Tires: 225/55 R16

Acceleration might be quicker if I downshifted to second, though I never normally do this. With the gearing (and tires) on my van, it will easily do 80 in third, yet it is fine down to about 30 in fourth for just normal driving in traffic. The SVX is torquey and flexible - great for this heavy van. It really comes alive above 4200 RPM, but I rarely drive it that way.

Since doing the engine conversion, I have stripped it down for repaint and new interior; just now reassembling, so I can't really report on gas mileage. Don't think it will be much worse than the original anemic 1.9L, though. The SVX whispers along with little throttle. The WBX was wrung out flat to the floor at anything above 50 mph.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:19 am

I do not have a stopwatch so I just used my second hand Hope this counts for something. Tried it twice and got about 4 seconds (Leavenworth WA) on flat ground.
I bought this '91 Syncro new in '92. I've had the engine in for about 6 weeks and it is a wonderful upgrade from the 2.1. It cruises in 4th (stock trans) as low as 30 nicely on a straight road and I have experienced nearly 19 mpg even with an occasional (!) full throttle for fun.

Year: 1991
Type: Syncro
Time: about 4 seconds
Engine: '96 Subaru 3.3L DOHC flat six
Miles on engine: 116K
Engine mods: Headers
Trans: 4-sp manual (granny low)
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: 1/2
Tires: 225/60 R16

Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:06 pm

AWESOME! Keep them coming!

But please, do use a stopwatch. You cell phone probably has one. Your iPod definitely does.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:31 pm

Kinda hard finding flat roads around here (WV) so here's the results of 3 'relatively level' runs. I don't know how a WBX handles this test, but my aircooled is really bogged down doing 30 in 3rd. The little red shift marks are at 34 and that is below the redline for the engine. It took almost 4 seconds just to get a little past 35. I'm going out and try it again 2 ways - once using 2nd gear and once doing 35 - 55 instead.

Year: 1980
Type: Westy
Time: 8.5, 9.5, 9.75
Engine: 2.0l - Stock Boston Bob rebuild
Miles on engine: ~20K
Engine mods: K&N, 72-74 muffler
Trans: 4-sp manual
Trans mods: none
Fuel tank: 3/4
Tires: 185 R14

Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:05 am

It appears the engine conversion folks are jumping in line to post on this thread. :D

Sigh, yes, I am a bit envious. 1621 showed me his turbo engine a week or so back and it is a thing of beauty.

Tencent, how does your better wasserboxer do on this challenge?

Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:04 am

Haven't tried it yet. The TB is off the motor so the CNC shop can study it, and I haven't put the stock one back on since I don't have to go anywhere. But I will give this a go when I'm back on the road. My results will be skewed due to my altitude, though. People should note that in their figures. It has a very heavy bearing on output.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:40 am

climberjohn wrote: It appears the engine conversion folks are jumping in line to post on this thread. :D

I'm waiting for Tristar Eric to chime in; complaining that this contest is unfair, because he has too much wheelspin in 3rd and had to use 5th gear.

.....and still posts a 5 second time.