In a message dated 12/5/98 7:14:25 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
drillock@earthlink.net writes:

<< Hello, Michael. I think that the air-cooled gearing may be a little too
tall for the
 stock diesel engine. You would probably spend a lot of time shifting back and
forth
 between 3rd and 4th gear. The stock vanagon diesel engine was 52 horsepower
and the
 air-cooled engine was 67 hp. If you need a new tranny anyway, try the air-
cooled
 one.Otherwise, larger diameter rear tires might be a better approach. What
size do you
 have now? >>

Hi Mark,
        At what speed do you think I'd be shifting between 3rd and 4th? Doesn't sound
like that big of an inconvenance if I would get a top end of 65 or 70 or am I
dreaming. My Tranny is in good shape so your suggestion on the tires sound
interesting. I have 195 70 R14's on the rear and 185's on the front. I have
yet to see the other side of 60mph and I just had timing and valves adjusted.
Didn't have my mechanic "turn up the pump" because he said it would increase
smoking (which is minimal except for about 20 seconds on a cold start). I'm
not dying to go faster but it would be nice. Just to be able to cruise at 60
to 65 on the flat would be great. What do you think?
Thanks,
Michael Avrea
82 Diesel Westy
Ventura, California USA