91 Tornado Red Orphan Rebirth

[Captain Pike]

After 9 years down. With an upgraded transmission and H6 heart(92svx engine). New radiator, stainless pipes, Cvs,fuel pump and new power steering lines on the way.

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

[Vanagon Nut]

Nice!

Did you need to make custom engine supports to keep engine below the cover?

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Captain Pike]

No. I went with the small car goodies. This was an abandoned project that came with about a 3rd of what was needed so I was married to that solution. Still need to connect the CVs so no road test yet. Gonna go put the front spindles back in the 66 Cab to finish out the day.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[vino de vano]

Captain Pike prepare for warp speed, your going to love it. Mark
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what a long strange trip it's been

[Captain Pike]

Shake down tests today. Sort of a tug boat till the PS lines go in. Good power, bit of a low growl from the muffler. I gave it a theme song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIldF-pGUCU
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[DanHoug]

perfect. Edgar would approve.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[vino de vano]

Good choice!
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what a long strange trip it's been

[Captain Pike]

Shakedown good so far. shorted foil on dash cluster gives the usual crazy lights. Pa tag Monday gives me 2 weeks to get inspected. 3rd party state certified shit. I expect to be excoriated with faults. So be it. Too many home wrench mechanics forgo the outside inspection. Hubris and it's OK can be dangerous.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[Captain Pike]

After replacing the coils and 4 injectors all systems go.
The power is amazing. I put 250000 miles on my 86 I4 and never felt this much push.
Trans was Weddle gear adapted to take the gusto.
Found a Westy top.
Send Lawyers, Guns and Money
The shit has hit the fan.....
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[Captain Pike]

[Vanagon Nut]

I recall the thrill of my first drive after converting my air cooled to an I4.

Can't imaging the thrill of an H6.

I hope the tranny holds up!

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Captain Pike]

The trans was the big issue before I made the jump. 91 late model trans. Good gutz. I have some tranzs gut work exp so that's done. Weddle gears float on the cone. Fathom that..... with flawless shifting.
Geared for 230HP.
When the addiction returned. The Hunger to Build Never Went Away.
Anybody can go Subaru 4. Posers.
Unlimited POWER.
I may keep this one.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[Howesight]

I just saw this post from a couple months ago and it reminded me of the excitement of my first few drives with SVX power after my conversion!

I have never done tire-screeching starts nor any full-throttle runs through the gears. Instead, in 1st and 2nd, I have driven carefully to avoid transaxle damage, and only a few times wound the engine out to 7,000 rpm in third gear to make a tough uphill pass. I run a 0.70 4th gear and larger wheel/tire combo.
Overall, I am pleased that I can downshift to 3rd gear and hold 60mph (at 4,100 rpm) on any long grades and have a serious overdrive for the flats.

I recently drove this rig (Syncro Westy) pretty conservatively, just to see what kind of gas mileage I can squeeze out of her. I recently got 325 miles out of a full tank - - a new personal record - - just by driving 65 mph instead of the previous 75 mph (sometimes 80 mph ). I never got more than 270 miles out of a full tank with the WBX.

Bottom line - - after all the high-power-inspired grins the SVX engine will give you, there is still a pot of high-gas-mileage gold at the end of the rainbow - - if you go there at 65mph.
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'86 Syncro Westy SVX

[Captain Pike]

I don't think of it as a Vanagon anymore. The shift points and the acceleration have all changed. I wonder how many H6 Vanagons are actually in the field?
As state previously, an ej25 is adequate, the H6 I feel is the engine this beast deserves.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................

[vino de vano]

Every day I drive mine I'm more impressed with this engine. Enjoy the ride.
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what a long strange trip it's been

[Captain Pike]

Pike likes NCC-1701.2A
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................