| Subject: | Re: towing capacity with big brakes and turbo zetec engine |
| From: | Jim Akiba |
| Date: | Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:51:57 -0400 |
Hey David, By "zetec conversion site" is the Bostig site? You shouldn't have seen 300 BHP for a trans torque limit on it, we use torque, and we put it around 220 ft lbs or so as a good guesstimate based on watching people actively retire their transmissions early on the various lists over the years. Maybe you saw another site with a listing for the stock focus trans? Anyhow in an effort to frustrate all of us, it's not really as simple as a single number anyhow as it'll vary by both gear, rpm, temp, the integrity of the case, how much wear/slop... and how fast you're bringing the torque on (shock loading vs, smoothly bring it up) but for practical rule of thumb style understanding of it, I think 220 is safe, we've gone well above that without problem (288 ft/lbs when we were running 18 psi on the turbo) , but I wouldn't suggest this for a daily driver. I think Daryl has the best line on it all as he's seen more of these broken failures than anyone around. Jim Akiba On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 10:47 PM, David Clarkson <dvdclarksn@aol.com> wrote: > Sorry, it is a 2WD. Trailer brakes would make good sense to me. Seems that I saw on the Zetec conversion site that the limit of the stock tranny is 300 BHP? That seems a bit high to me and maybe I could see 225 BHP and no more than 175 ft./lbs. torque as being the limit that it might take and then only with synthetic and a heavy duty clutch. Any thoughts on that? > > David Clarkson > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> > To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Wed, Mar 28, 2012 5:22 pm > Subject: Re: towing capacity with big brakes and turbo zetec engine > > > > > Don's right .. > trailer brakes would make the whole affair about 75 % better and safer, > over no trailer brakes. .. > in terms of braking and braking while cornering. > > stress on the trans under load .. > if you're real nice to it , it might be all right. > A trans speicialist might chime in. > > I don't think it says if this is a 2WD vanagon or a Syncro AWD one. > some factor there on the trans I'd think. > > > > On 3/25/2012 6:34 PM, Don Hanson wrote: > > On Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 5:44 PM, David Clarkson<dvdclarksn@aol.com> �wrote: > > > >> � Does anyone out there know what the towing capacity is for a turbo zetec > >> engine(I think about 180 BHP/ not sure of torque but probably slightly > >> less) westy outfitted with bigger front disc and rear disc brakes assuming > >> suspension is in good shape (I have HD Bilstein and getting new progressive > >> springs). Just thinking about future plans that might involve towing. Could > >> this setup tow 1500-1800 lbs( Harley on a light trailer or two medium size > >> 4 wheelers) assuming safe speeds and braking and no extreme hills? Is this > >> only possible with a Subi 3.3 and upgraded trans/axles? Thanks list. > >> > >> David Clarkson > >> > > � �I think you might want brakes on the trailer, too. � I've towed all kinds > > of loads with various rigs and once the towed load gets up there in > > comparison to the weight of the tow vehicle...the load really 'pushes' the > > tow vehicle during slow down maneuvers. � With some simple electric brakes > > and the controller properly adjusted, you'd be much happier and safer. �I > > recently pulled a 10' Wells Cargo utility trailer with my wife's Subaru > > Forester...While the load was OK (about 1200lbs, I guestimate) with the > > power, under braking, especially when cornering, it was pretty > > sketchy...brakes on the trailer would have eliminated the tendency of the > > load to push the rear end around... > > > > � �Somebody will certainly chime in on the reasons you can't do it, I bet. > > I guess you could, the key word is guess, if you drove with care. > > � �Don Hanson > > > > >
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