>
>   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.

Having taken mine down the steepest there is...
The trick is to not let the speed get too high in the first place.
You don't want to have to downshift and put the engine over red line.
If the speed is too high the amount of kinetic engergy is being
released is more than the brakes can disapate.  At lower speeds, the
brakes have more time to cool vs a fixed desent.

to get a wankel and drive in the mountains... you might also want to
upgrade to oversized ventilated disc brakes all around...

With the wankel you have the advantage of not having to worry about
red lining.  Spin it as fast as you want; you won't hurt it.  Having
driven one for 10 years, I think I could get as much drag out of it as
our water boxes.

TBill
83.5 Westy
(for sale)

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