I sign-off with 8 degrees BTDC and that is where I like it ( 44 degrees full
advance) and acording to Bentley they state 5 degrees ATDC plus or minus 1
degree.    I reccommend 5 BTDC, but I like the added lower end punch I
achieve by going to 8 degrees BTDC......although I think I might back it off
2 degrees to bring the idle down.....The throttle body screw is turned all
the way in and it's idling at 1000 rpms.....
So bottom line is 5 degrees ATDC performs poorly, advance yours to TDC and
see how you like it. And if you want to see how the van performs at her
best, advance 5 more degrees to 5 or 6 degrees BTDC.
You won't think of a 2.1 L or an expensive conversion.

Of course if you can convert, I would go to the 1.8T ( 150 bhp) with a
chip......180 bhp.  and they will become more and more available as more
bugs and jettas crash......

T

-----Original Message-----
From: Zoltan [mailto:zol@foxinternet.net]
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 9:44 AM
To: Smola, Tony
Subject: Re: VW EMISSIONS CONSPIRACY

Hi Tony,
That makes me think.  You say 5 degrees plus minus one Atdc is where it
performs well.   When you sign off your lines state 8 degrees  Btdc.  Is
there not a mistake of mixing up the A with the B?
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@TRIBUNE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2001 6:59 PM
Subject: VW EMISSIONS CONSPIRACY

> I have noticed 2 things that bother me about the 1.9 liter wasserboxer.
>
> 1) the understatement by VW of displacement of the motor.....it's actually
> somewhere around 1955 cc
> 2) the detuning of the motor......5 degrees ATDC vs what the motor really
> performs at which is any where around 5 degrees +  - 1 degree
>
> Did VW do these things so that the Vanagon would pass the stringent German
> smog standards of the 80's?......the black forest dying?
>
> I don"t know but it seems kind of wierd.......Any comments from the engine
> gurus?......
>
> Malibu Tony
>
> 85'  Westy.....
> 8 degrees   BTDC
>  and 44 degrees (corrected!) full advance..
> ....Digitool Darrell confirms this is safe.... and I agree.......