After taking my '87 Westy to Everybus and back I  think an engine report is
due.  Many of you may know of the problems I had  with my Boston Bob's Big
Valve Engine.  Well, it finally got rebuilt and  the trip to Everybus was its
first big trip after break in.  You may also  recall my concern about oil pressure
on the first engine and then the second  engine so these are the main reason
for this report.  See _Vanagon 2.1 Engine Oil Pressure  Survey_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/survey.htm)  .  I also want to add that I installed one of
those  performance chips in the ECU back in January so that has some bearing on
this  report.
Travelling many miles with my friends Tom & Ina  from Detroit in their '87
Westy similarly loaded but with a well used OEM engine  I did not notice any
perceptible difference in performance in acceleration or  cruising.  When pulling
on to freeways I could not out accelerate them but  seem to be making the
same performance as they were.  On the highway  cruising we both seemed to have
the same power.  So big valves and  performance chip I don't see what's up with
that except low gas mileage.  I  will say that I was able to climb hills a
bit better and not have to shift to  third as often but.................?????
I'm thinking a well built  stock configured engine and no performance chip is
the best most  economical, reliable way to go. But, I will reserve final
judgement  until the end of my summers travels !
Everybus 2004 trip - gas & mileage - April 13 ~ 22
1987 Westfalia - fully loaded with two persons and dog on board.
Mobile 1 full synthetic oil - first use since break in - 4901 km ~ 2942
miles on new engine
Oil filter - Hengst, H14W04
Oil pressure readings taken after full day of highway running, average  speed
- 120 km/hr
idle - 5 lbs
2000 rpm - 16 lbs
4000 rpm - 37 lbs - steady throughout trip.
Total distance of trip - 4012.6 km ~2408.52 mi
Gas consumption - 641.67 litres ~ 141.154 gal. = 6.25 l/km ~ 17.06  mpg
Oil consumption - 2 litres
Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
'87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com