Has anyone else been thinking on an exhaust brake as for Diesels they
are available after market for Ford trucks and RV's running diesels. Not
sure if the Theory works on  Gas engines but I plan to install a
similiar device on my TD vanagon when it's done. Just a thought to save
Brakes. for the more critical job of stopping at the intersection at
bottom of large hill not in the river to cool off red hot faded brake
rotor.
 just a thought for you gas-aholics.
 DAN STEVENS
 RED BUG RESTO

From:    Michael Sullivan <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
Subject: Re: Wankels

At 10:03 AM 10/13/98 -0700, t bill wrote:

>Drag will be about half of what you currently have.  Just down shift

>some more.  You won't hurt it.

>TBill

Evidently you haven't driven in the mountains with your Vanagon! The
stock engine is woefully inadequate for slowing our vans down on those
long steep grades -- it will go past redline easily (no matter what gear
you put it in), necessitating WAY TOO MUCH brake usage, resulting in RED
HOT brake rotors in a matter of minutes. BTDT (and scared the sh#t out
of my wife doing so).

I can't imagine what it would be like with a Wankel with even less
engine drag!!!

Perhaps he could retrofit a parachute (a la dragster) to help with drag?
Now that I think of it, I would HIGHLY recomend the parachute just in
case he goes off the edge! ;)

Daniel Stevens
Operations Specialist