What's the cheapest simplest way for me to get my
vanagon to cruise at 70mph? (or at least stay above 55 on hilly
interstates?)

Rocket Fuel!!!

Bill

----------
> From: mac stricklen <mac_stricklen@YAHOO.COM>
> To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject: finding a new engine?
> Date: Monday, November 30, 1998 9:19 AM
>
> My wife and I did all of our Thanksgiving traveling in our Saturn
> Wagon and even though it's a fine car we were lamenting the fact that
> we weren't in our Westy.  Part of the reason that we weren't is
> because it needs a new oil cooler, which I'll be doing soon.  But we
> also tend to take the Saturn for these types of trips just because its
> faster.
>
> I know that there is a lot of talk among type 2 enthusiasts of all
> kinds about the "attitude" that has to accompany owning/driving one of
> these things and not being in a hurry.  But sometimes when schedules
> are tight speed helps out.
>
> So, I was thinking about how to make the Westy go a little faster, and
> naturally my thoughts turned to engine conversions.  I've seen a lot
> of talk about various conversions on the list, but before buying the
> vanagon I gave little thought to the automotive world and my ignornce
> still shows through.
>
> How do I go about an engine conversion?  Do I just get an engine and
> then order that adapter kit from Kennedy Engineering or Hetlef
> Hanschke (sp?)  and go to it or will I need other stuff?  Where do I
> find an engine?  How much is it all this likely to cost.
>
> I've heard that there are Porche engines that I could switch to that
> would allow me to stay air cooled--which ones are these?  Do I just
> walk into a Porsche dealer and ask them to order one?  If I want a
> used one is there some sytematic way of trying to track one down or am
> I just looking at spending months of my life wandering through salvage
> yards?
>
> If I want to go to a Subaru engine or an Audi 5 cylinder or some other
> water cooled is it possible to do this--how hard/expensive would it be
> to add a radiator to my 1980 Vanagon?
>
> I guess what I'm looking for is the total low down on engine
> conversions for the ignorant.  Or perhaps the question I am truly
> asking is this:  What's the cheapest simplest way for me to get my
> vanagon to cruise at 70mph? (or at least stay above 55 on hilly
> interstates?)
>
> thanks,
> mac
> ==
> Residential Life Coordinator,
> Berea College
>
> 80 Westy (the Turtle)
> 97 Klein Mantra (Dr. Livingston)
> 93 Bridgestone XO-2 (Zippy)
> 91 Bridgestone MB-2 Fixed Gear (Earnest)
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