[Vwdiesel] TD Westy - First driving impressions

[Shawn Wright]

My daughter and I went for the first ride outside the neighbourhood in the TD Westy 
last night. I got the Caravan airbox installed using 3" marine blower duct and the 
stock intake funnel reversed for the left side. I also got the stock throttle cable 
installed. 
On our rural roads, drivability was excellent, with power feeling similar to the 85 Jetta 
NA provided revs were over 2500. Engine winds out and will pull well beyond 4500 
rpm if I'm not careful, with no smoke under any conditions. We hit the highway, and 
started from a light up a short but steep grade beginning the Malahat drive, maybe 8-
10% for 1/2 mile. I was able to get into 4th (5 speed) and just hold it at 70km/h, just 
under 3000rpm. Boost was only 3-4 psi, EGTs around 800F. I pulled over, and gave 
the fuel screw a 1/8 turn or so, and repeated. This time, I could do 80km/h with about 
5psi boost, and 850F EGT. Another 1/8 turn, and I'm now able to do 85km/h 6psi and 
900F EGT. I am also able to see brief peaks of 8.5psi boost during WOT in 3rd gear, 
and still NO smoke. This was near dark, so any hint of smoke would have shown in 
headlights, and there was none.
Compared with my 82 NA, this power is *way* better of course. But it is still a fair bit 
short of the old 2.1L gas engine, although it feels like it could spin the tires in 1st and 
2nd now. 

I'm a bit concerned about having to crank the fuel screw so much, but if there's still 
no smoke, I should be safe, right? I've probably turned it 3/8 turn since I started now 
(interestingly, idle has not increased much at all). Pump is a used one off ebay, so it 
could have been set too low. Also, since I'm already seeing 900F EGT with no 
exhaust, I expect this will go higher once I get a muffler on.

ps: My daughter commented that it is way louder than the '82 under load, but quieter 
once cruising. Considering no exhaust, and no mattress over the engine, I think it's 
not bad.

Shawn Wright
http://zuiko.sls.bc.ca/~swright
'85 Jetta D 
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
 (see progress at http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels)
'82 Diesel Westy