Is it worth it to balance everything and maybe do a
little cleaning up of ports, etc. IYO?
steve

Bob Donalds wrote:
>
> John Rodgers wrote:
> >
> > Robert, one of the problems with adding equipment like a turbo is what to do
> > with the extra heat that is generated. The wasserboxer, in my opinion, just
> > won't take it. Right now my 2.1L is down for a rebuild because a piston melted
> > a hole tin the top. Something was not right and it gave up the ghost. Unless
> > the engine is specifically designed for a turbo, or in the case of hot-rodding
> > the engine, re-engineered for the application, I don't think it is a practical
> > application at all. There are somethings that might be done, and if the engine
> > is carefully blueprinted it will handle some extra heat, but I personally
> > wouldn't opt for a turbo.
> >
> > The direction I am headed at the moment is to clean up the weak spots in the
> > stock engine, and with a few changes increase the performance and particularly
> > the longevity of the engine. Balanceing the rotating machinery is one giant
> > step. The crank, rods, and pistons will be matched and balanced. I'm also
> > taking a close look at the compression ratio as well. By going to a 1.9 head
> > instead of going back to the 2.1 head, the compression ratio can be raised
> > slightly without machining the heads.  Ratio rockers are expected to improve
> > performance as well. Following the example of others, I plan to port ( grind
> > out the ports on the heads to exactly match the exhaust pipe connection) and
> > polish(polish the ports to exceptional smoothness) the heads which will improve
> > scavenging, The cam may be reground as well, but it will be for an essentially
> > street profile, nothing radical at all. That would not follow the intent and
> > purpose. A new water pump and a new close tolerance oil pump will be added to
> > maintain superior oil pressure.
> >
> > None of this is really new, just following the examples K. Wilfy and Robert
> > Lilley.
> >
> > I think the wasserboxer to be an engine well balanced to the vanagon, and when
> > overhauled, if certain issues of performance are addressed, you can get good
> > power from the engine as well as long life.
> >
> > John Rodgers
> >
> > Robert Tippey wrote:
> >
> > > Hello Vanagon Friends
> > >
> > >     I'm new to the list but not THE CAR.
> > >     I read a message written by John Benditt in which he mentions
> > >     adding a blower for 150 HP. Has there been any R&orD regarding this
> > >     application? I like my wasserboxer but more power is appealing.
> > >     NO, I don't want a Subaru or other unrelated transplant option, thanks.
> > >
> > >     Rob  '91 Syncro
> John and the list
>    I agree the turbo idea has no place under the deck lid of a vanagon
> as for going back to 1.9 heads from the 2.1 let me point out that the
> 2.1 heads have a much cleaner intake (better breathing) and exhaust
> ports and a better combustion chamber shape this is also true of the AMC
> heads but to a lesser extent
>     As for cleaning up the weak spots the used con rods will be your
> biggest weak spot
> if you dont rebuild the big ends and replace the hardware
> boosting the compression ratio makes the engine run hotter and could
> give you less power
> and increase the chance of abnormal combustion and melting pistons again
>     A new close tolerance oil pump to incease the oil pressure can cause
> problems with the lifters over pumping by the way the some gasket sets
> have an 0.008 ths thick gasket
> for the oil pump cover and some come with a 0.004 ths thick gasket the
> dealer lists a (111 115 131 B) part # same as the type one all type 1
> gasket sets they all have a pump cover gasket thats 0.004 ths the
> thicker gasket with the differance of 0.004 ths will give you half the
> oil pressure
>    After market cams can shift the power band and make it more likley
> that you will need to down shift for the hills on the highway
>    ratio rockers could give you 10% increase in power and put more
> strain on the valve guides
> I think its hard to beat the stock setup when it is set up correctly
> with very few changes needed
> Bob Donalds
> bostonengine.com