How can I make my van faster up hills/ motorway ?

[sternal]

Okay this could be a silly question

Ive got a 1983 2.0 l Aircooled, its slow !

Up hill is a snails pace okay its got a hightop and is carrying a fair bit of weight, motorways top 55mph I know its old but it must of gone faster at some point in its life !

Its been serviced every year without fail and runs like a dream.

Am I hoping for something thats not going to happen unless I stick a v8 engine in !

[Reimotim]

http://www.noswizard.com/car-nitrous-ki ... odies.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cruz]

http://library.creativecow.net/articles ... ketcar.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or go watercooled

[Ralf85]

Okay this could be a silly question

Ive got a 1983 2.0 l Aircooled, its slow !

Up hill is a snails pace okay its got a hightop and is carrying a fair bit of weight, motorways top 55mph I know its old but it must of gone faster at some point in its life !

Its been serviced every year without fail and runs like a dream.

Am I hoping for something thats not going to happen unless I stick a v8 engine in !

I used to drive along at 55/60 mph in my old 1.6l T2 without a problem, but hills were a pain. Moving to a T3 with a water cooled 1.9l DF engine (seriously) changed the driving experience. 60mph on the flat is fine and if I know there is a hill coming I build up to 70/75mph and it's not a problem. Best thing I ever did moving from air cooled.

[Plasticman]

come on thats 1.6 territory, a 2lt should have a bit more urge
mm

[lefty67]

just be thankful it "runs like a dream"

[Krugerbaydesign]

My girlfriend used to have an Aircooled Pop top, was never fast, but could cruise a bit quicker than 55 on the motor way, hills were usually a bit of a problem. Has it got twin carbs?

I had new replacement carbs fitted and a good setup and tune and ran alot better, but at the end of the day they are pretty heavy vans, alot heavier than Bay Windows and Splits.

[CovKid]

Many years ago (early 90s I think) I had a Doka with one of those engines in. I have to say, I'm not a fan of them. VW fitted them during the 'test' phase of the T25 as they gradually got their act together and produced watercooled engines to go in there.

I became so fed up with it, I took the engine out, mated a custom-built beetle lump to the gearbox that had a cam that was perfect for pulling. Had the case line-bored and built everything from the bottom up with a million calculations too. That thing really DID shift. Often had the back loaded with logs and it never complained. Not so easy in a camper as theres not enough headroom for the fan housing unless you build a box over the engine hatch - not very practical then. The fun part was making up tinware for it as none existed for a conversion like that. Spent a couple of days bending and cutting sheet ally. I did work well though and spares were easier to find as well as cheaper to buy.

Absolutely no comparison to the engine that had been in there - transformed it. Always tricky with an Aircooled body though, unless you make major changes like fitting a rad. You could try rebuilding it and/or getting it properly tuned. Dellortos would be a good move.

[Aidan]

check the gearbox code, you might have the 1.6 gearbox in there or worse one of the early diesel boxes, cu with correct box should be a bit quicker than you are finding if the engine is in good health

[Plasticman]

yes many things to check , my tired old 1.6 would sit at 55-60 , ok there wasnt a great deal left after that and hill needing preparing both mentally and in getting a run up but by and large i enjoyed it. a 2lt should easy do that and have enough go for most situations,
mm

[sternal]

Thanks for all your answers so far, how would I find out about the gearbox code ?

The retired couple I bought it from said it had been running like that since they bought it 8years ago and lived with the pace ! Perhaps I ought to as well, giving it a blast tomorrow to the Battlesbridge VW Show (only 40miles) will see if I can get it faster ! The hightop cant help the speed !

[Plasticman]

your missing something here,
take a few picks of the engine/bay and post up as a few on here specialise in them and much can be seen.
this may seem silly buit when i bough an ac many years ago i ran it a short while and it strugglled to 50 and hill you avoided , ran lovely as well but found it was only getting 3/4 throttle . simple things can cause untold grief
mm

[Ralf85]

come on thats 1.6 territory, a 2lt should have a bit more urge
mm

That was the point I was trying to make. A 2l air cooled engine should be able to travel comfortably faster that a 1.6l.

[sternal]

Wwill post this eve some pics

[vanisveryrusty]

My Aircooled 2L poptop can do 75mph without a struggle when I am ruuning it on LPG.
When I switch it to petrol it has even more urge, but why burn money.

If yours has original carbs , I would check they are set up right, choke not stuck open or something.
Make sure brakes are not binding.

Other than that,
Just leave earlier