> 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!

I've been up and down mountains all over the Rockies, including the
one that has the world's highest paved road.  [Hint: It's over 14000
ft, higher than Pikes peak].  so what's your point?

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),
No it won't.  Try this: Go to top of mountain.  Put vanagon in first,
start down.  Take foot off gas.  Now, how fast are you going?

 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).

Only if you let your speed get up to the point where a downshift to
first would red line it.  Don't do that.

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

No problem.  You have no red line.  Just let it rev.

>
> 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! ;)
>
What?  And dash hopes of winning the Darwin award?/[And now, in the
catagory of the dumb ass who let his van exceed critical speed going
down a mountain...]

TBill
83.5 Westy
AC, Auto, plenty of braking power
(for sale)

>
> Daniel Stevens
> Operations Specialist
>

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