Since I started working on them in 2006, the goal was to add power without sacrificing the reliability of the NA zetec/conversion.
Right now people have to choose, although many don't realize what they are leaving on the table. Most people have the viewpoint that with a Bostig they are leaving power on the table, and they can get Bostig reliability with a subaru based conversion. In reality with a 2.5 Subie they are leaving reliability on the table, and with a 2.2 they are leaving both reliability along with no power advantage on the table.
The current turbo rev has been in testing since 2009. It is not dead. There have been 4 major revisions, non-intercooled, 2 air/water intercooled, and the air/air intercooled ones that have been running since 09. I don't like the turbo as a power adder for anyone. It has the upside of having upside. If you want to do a crazy build and make 400HP, you can, and break everything in your driveline as often as you want. But it has downsides in that its number of points of failure, modes of failure, and severity of outcome of failure are still such that not anyone can just run it and have it be reliabile, its compeltely subjective and varies by owner. That is not the solution that Vanagon owners need.
The alternative is the opposite, very few points of failure, very friendly modes of failure, and very low severity of outcome for even the most catastrophic modes of failure. Driving a syncro with 180HP and 200ft/lbs of torque that just keeps going and going is so great, more people need to experience it. I'd also like to help avoid more cases of the few unfortunate folks that inadvertently commit Subicide with a gremlin riddled setup after dumping ton's of money into the project to then perhaps scrap the whole idea of a van. People pull Subarus for Bostigs for reliability increases, they learned the hard way the extra 30HP wasn't worth the risks they didn't fully understand. People only pull Bostigs for more power. Like my original plan back in late 2004 called for, we need a good power adder. And I'm almost done.
Thinking about RG8, how is the progress on the power adder?
ReplyDeleteFirst install group is happening this summer actually. I'll have more updates on it after I wrap up RG7.
ReplyDeleteI have been seriously thinking about this ever since I replaced a dying 1.9 wbx with a "good to go" F'n dying 2.1 last spring
ReplyDelete: (
I just heard about the possibility of a turbo and found this post. I don't think the RG7 page said anything about a power add and the RG8 page doesn't either... is it included in the price? Is the solution a turbo (if you are at liberty to tell)? Approx what HP did RG7 get? What the deal yo? Thanks-
Did you do anything to upgrade the drivetrain to handle doubling the horsepower? I want to make sure I get all the necessary modifications in place early :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat's the latest on the power adders? Did you get some into a test group last summer as you hoped? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Jim
ReplyDeleteDo you have any more information on the power-adder to share? I am very interested in doing a Bostig conversion at some point. I would likely opt-in to a power-adder. Since you say it's not a turbo, I'm guessing it's a supercharger.
Thanks
-Evan