Vanagon 30-50 challenge

MrPolak · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject: Vanagon 30-50 challenge

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.

Gorge Runner · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

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

Marc
_________________
91 Carat
EJ205 WRX

hiram6 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

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

_________________
1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.

GWTWTLW · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject:

I recently went from 70 to 0 in about 10 seconds rolling and sliding drivers side down. Does that count?
_________________
89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw

floggingmolly · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject:

Yes, or at least it should.
_________________
'85 Wolfsburg Weekender

Captain Pike · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

pinks ____ Twisted Evil

_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

ftp2leta · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

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

Cheers, Ben
_________________
Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
------------------------------------------------------
FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta

90Doka_Guy · Samba Member Joined: April 08, 2007 Posts: 550

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

dr. no · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject:

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.
_________________
Scott
http://lungehphoto.com

'83.5 Westy s/p 1.6td JX and 4sp DK transplant
'09 Jetta SportWagen TDI
'06 MB Sprinter
'86 Iltis
'89 Isuzu Trooper

PAST VWs:
'82 NA diesel Vanagon
'86 7-passenger Vanagon
'77 Bay
'71 Bay
'74 Things (2)
'69 Karmann Ghia (the only one I miss--in nice weather, anyway...)
'91 Fox

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 52307

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

Bubs · Samba Member Joined: January 31, 2006 Posts: 330

My van:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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
_________________
'84 Vanagon w/ Subaru 2.2 Swap
'08 Versa HB six-speed
'09 Zuma 125, '75 Kawasaki H1 500 Triple

MrPolak · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject:

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

1621 · Samba Member Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174

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.
_________________
'85 Westy

hisport7 · Samba Member Joined: September 17, 2007 Posts: 2

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.

1991syncro · Samba Member Joined: July 05, 2007 Posts: 6

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

MrPolak · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:06 pm Post subject:

AWESOME! Keep them coming!

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

terryg · Samba Member Joined: January 20, 2006 Posts: 349

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

climberjohn · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

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

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?
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

tencentlife · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:04 am Post subject:

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.
_________________
Shop for unique and useful Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
also available at VanCafe.com!

Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is death to doctrine.

McVanagon · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:40 am Post subject:


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