Now I wasn't trying to be ornery, or say "my van's better than your van".

I am just curious: do other folks with a loaded Westy Syncro have to go
THAT slowly up hills (generally speaking)? My thought is, the HP and torque
difference between our 2.0 air cooled and the 2.1 water-cooled isn't THAT
great, and the Westy syncro is hauling a radiator, AC components, and all
that drive-train stuff...how much does all that stuff slow things down?

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
Cary, NC     USA
www.bulley-hewlett.com
(888) 468-4880 toll free

-----Original Message-----
From:   Davidson [SMTP:wdavidson@THEGRID.NET]
Sent:   Tuesday, March 09, 1999 11:32 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: THAT slow??? was: Synchro Power?

Well Mr. G.M.,
Of course we have no way of knowing if we are comparing the same road
grades
or weights now do we? (Not to mention head winds, etc.) One man's steep
grade is another's moderate grade. Not exactly scientific. Perhaps we
should
have a race?

As for bicycles, you would be hard pressed to peddle one at 15 mph up any
significant, sustained grade (even without a fully loaded Westy on your
back) :)
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
-----Original Message-----
From: G. Matthew Bulley <gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com>
To: 'Davidson' <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, March 09, 1999 8:28 AM
Subject: THAT slow??? was: Synchro Power?

>
>Wow--
>
>Our 1982 Westy is no speed demon, but we generally can hang with 45-50 mph
>(third gear, wound up) on long grades, even with four folks in the van.
>I've not seen a climb that takes it below 35 (second gear, wound tight).
>Are we fortunate, or is the Westy Sinkhole ur, I mean Syncro, that much
>heavier/slower?
>
>15mph is bicycle speed...of course, I can't pedal that fast when carrying
>four people.
>
>G. Matthew Bulley
>Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
>Cary, NC     USA
>www.bulley-hewlett.com
>(888) 468-4880 toll free
>
>
>-----Original Message-----<<<SNIP>>>
>With my 90 Westy Syncro fully loaded (not including the water tank) I am
>reduced to about 25 mph up sustained hills. With a full water tank,
propane
>tank, and food supply I have been reduced to 15 mph up significant grades.
>With it empty I can get to Tahoe without dropping below about 45 mph. The
><<<SNIP>>>
>
>