Hey William,
I bet you'll get widely varying opinions on this, but here's mine
nonetheless.
The syncro tach has a green pie-shaped piece to designate the "safe" range
of RPMs.  The green area goes from 1500-4500 overall.  However, the edges of
the pie slice are hashed green and black, indicating you're getting near the
limits.  The hashed areas go from 1500-2000 and from 4100-4500 (solid green
from 2000 to 4100).  From 5200-5400 you have hashed orange and black, and
from 5400 up you have solid orange.  When running at 4000, I am indicating
about 71-72 mph.  At 4500, I'm indicating about 85 mph.

I also have about 40K on a factory rebuild, and I found that on long trips
(i.e. SFO to Albuquerque and back), running 85 I would use about 1/2-1 qt.
of oil per 1000 miles.  When I dropped it back to about 70-75 mph, I stopped
using oil almost entirely.

Being somewhat conservative about my cars, I decided that VW probably didn't
intend for the Wasserboxer to burn oil in addition to gasoline, and I cooled
my jets a bit.  I don't cruise in the left lane anymore, but I also don't
have as much to worry about on the stopping end either (you're right about
braking).  Getting bigger tires didn't hurt either--a natural way to slow
yourself down <g>.

I am sure the Tiico can easily hit 100mph in terms of power, but you
couldn't pay me enough to drive a stock vanagon 100 mph.

Like Karl, I no longer exceed 4000 unless passing or pulling a hill where I
need a little extra before shifting up.
bmc  :)

"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
> Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
> Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2001 19:47:18 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Tiico convert question
>
> William,
>
> You need cruise control!  Set it to cruise at a speed you know the van is
> comfortable with and you won't creep up to a speed that you're comfortable
> with.
>
> I limit myself to 4K, BTW.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "developtrust" <developtrust@HOME.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 7:35 PM
> Subject: Re: Tiico convert question
>
>
>> I just have a regular 2.1 water cooled engine (factory rebuilt 35,000
> miles
>> ago) and find myself cruising at 80 MPH at about 4300 RPM. Going with the
>> flow of traffic. My concern is whether or not 4300 RPM is too much for
> that
>> engine at that speed. It sounds good. Handles well. Of course I keep lots
> of
>> space between me and the cars in front as I notice I need some stopping
>> distance with the Vanagon.
>>
>> I do try to stay at 75 MPH or less. It seems more comfortable but everyone
>> else on the freeway is going 75 to 80 or more so I tend to get up to speed
>> with the flow of traffic and hit the cruise control then lay back.
>>
>> Any comments?
>>
>> William P.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Sean B." <vgonman@EARTHLINK.NET>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 6:29 PM
>> Subject: Re: Tiico convert question
>>
>>
>>> I was able to get to 90mph yesterday. IIRC it was only spinning at
> around
>>> 5k RPM (The motor is rev limited to 6300 RPM). I have an automatic
> trans.
>>>
>>> Sean B.
>>> '90 V'gon, "Happy Bus", pseudo Wolfy
>>> Torrance, CA
>>> Join the TiiCo registry at
>>> HTTP://www.vgonman.com
>>
>