Vanagon has lack of power going up a hill

jalopyjockey · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject:

hmmm.....im wondering if youre changin one can of worms for another...the carbs already on there and wildthings has good points...i am by no means a carb advocate but they definitely have their advantages, especially when installed on an older vehicle...and a heavy one to boot....electricals get quirky and gremlins are damn hard to find at times.....

are you still using the phenolic block from the injection setup as the gasket?

danfromsyr

I installed a Eurovan 2.5L 5cyl (109hp, 140ft#)engine into Mom's 86 automatic Westy.
she still says it it lacks power and is slow to go up hills. Rolling Eyes

I don't have the heart to install the 240hp SVX i have under the bench in her van, she's nearly 70 afterall. Mad

it's in the perspective, enjoy the journey, it's a trip!

DAIZEE · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject:

Don't be shy about coming back. Altho your reason for posting was sincere/serious. It's just the title that was making us laugh. A few go faster than most! Wink

_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

metroatlantacomputers · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 10:38 am Post subject:

Yes it is the two barrel carb set up. I do not have any heating mechanism to prevent icing. From all the post I do thin FI is the way to go. And I have found out that the vanagans have more weight therefore less power because of weight, but they have more torque. Thank everybody for helping me. And I am new to the samba post thing...

0to60in6min · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:02 pm Post subject:

I just LOVE this subject line of this topic....

"Vanagon has lack of power going up a hill"

wouaaah... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Very Happy

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50337

For years I typically got 23-24 mpg in daily use, and on long highway trips have done 24-26 mpg at 65 mph against a head wind for tank after tank. Yes I run the heated intake air as was stock on 72-74 models and have some carb base heat so icing isn't an issue. People can knock these carbs all they want, but properly set up they are as good or better than the alternatives.

Das Dragon · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:31 pm Post subject:

If it's a single progressive two barrel carb there is no way it's going to get good mileage as there is no means to preheat the carb and icing is an issue then.
_________________
Rest In Peace HamburgerBrad, we will never forget you!

_________________________________________________________
DB3 said:
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*********'s constant over-estimation of his own importance never ceases to amaze me."

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vanis13 · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject:

Maybe it has to do with timing….I mean the timing of the vehicles metro is used to if he’s used to driving a newer car.

A couple years ago I read a story in Road and Track? where the author was finally getting the Ferrari 308 GTO he’s always wanted (1986-ish Magnum PI car).

The sentence I always remember goes something like this –

“The prices on driven 308s are now about the price of a new Toyota Camary. Between the two, I took the 308. Unfortunately, the performance between the two is about the same too.”

Then it goes on about the high repair costs, the lack of parts, and the spontaneous coolant dumps the 308s take when sitting in the driveway over the weekend.

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50337

My '74 bus with a progressive would, in its youth, easily out pull a WBXer up to 55-60 mph. I was really shocked when I started looking for a Vanagon as to what pigs they were. Sales people (dealer or used car lot) kept telling me how I would be impressed with the Vanagon's power after driving a Bay, but the opposite was what was true.

It's too bad it is so hard to do a good progressive installation, way beyond most people's willingness, interest, and abilities to do. The progressive can really make a T4 rock, but sadly few actually do.

reluctantartist · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:36 pm Post subject:

CQ, I beg to differ...I am not sure why the 72 is rated at a 78 mph top cruising speed but the 79 bay is the same as the vanagon at 74mph.. it may be because of smog equipment. The vanagon westy has a gross weight of 132 lbs more than the bay westy, but the later bays and vanagons have 15%+ more torque than the 72. Your 72 may have been a little faster on the flats but I don't think a 79 bay would be any faster than a vanagon. I have noticed quite a few bay folks complain about slow vehicles too.
_________________
1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

Das Dragon

CQ · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject:

Hey Metro I had a 72 Bus it was much faster than my Vanagon, especially if you have an Air cooled one. I think these Vanagons are much more heavier so they are slower than the ol Bays.
_________________
82 Westy 'Betsy'
72 Bus 'Bertha' -Sold
Learning about 2.0L AFC Everyday.

reluctantartist · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:30 pm Post subject:

Switch it back to FI. But, it sounds like your carb set-up may not be tuned correctly. I am not sure by how much lack of power you are describing. As we all know non of the original vanagons have a lot to begin with, but it should be able to keep up with a Bay.
_________________
1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

jalopyjockey · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:56 pm Post subject:

fuel economy yes....power, prolly not....but thats all dependent on condition and tuning of things

metroatlantacomputers · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 1:39 pm Post subject:

I have a 1983 air cooled westy... I think it was either a 2.0 or 1.9 originally. I think it was replace with a 1.9 engine I am not sure. I had a 1976 air cooled west and it seemed like it had more power than my current 1983. The '76 westy did have fuel injection. I am just seeing if it is worth the time and effort to switch back to the fuel injection. Will it really increase the power and fuel economy....

DAIZEE · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:10 pm Post subject:

METRO: hope you don't think we are "shooting you down", we are all laughing at ourselves at one time or another as you can see we've all been there, some will always be there.

We really do need more information about your engine, etc... so we can direct pertinent ideas to you. When you have a Vanagon, you have to be able to laugh, if you didn't already know that. We'll help. Razz

_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

insyncro · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:54 am Post subject:

I have all parts to help you switch back to FI and I will credit you some $s if I can use the Carb setup.

Please post a picture of the engine compartment showing the setup you have.

pmail please.

dylan

CQ · Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:02 am Post subject:

DAIZEE · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:09 pm Post subject:

And the question is: Do a lot of Vanagons lack power going up hills? Smile

Yes we need year model, engine type. Question

_________________
'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold)

vanis13 · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:04 pm Post subject:

"Vanagon has lack of power going up a hill"...I expected a joke of some sort when I opened this thread. author must be new to Vanagons or hills


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