I need more low end power. Im 5.89's with a 4.85 case. Would putting the cat back on it help? I get into places like this and need just a tiny bit more ummff
http://www.sierrarockcrawlers.com/data/srcforumuploads/DOCU0123.JPG

that is my only thing left ..other wise I love my sami.. Should have built one a long time ago.

Mike-

also my carb runs fine on its side when I roll to the driver side but not to the passenger side???? easy fix? I see petroworks sells a vent tube..does that work just like a holly tube?

I do believe the vent tube was for a hesitation problem heard of the tube but never payed much attetion to it mine seem to run fine weather on the drivers or pass. side literally.

I have driven six or eight sami's with 1.3's, and found some run a lot stronger than others. I don't know exectly why, but I think the condition of the carb's make a big difference. The vent tube is supposed to solve hesitation near full throttle, so that won't help.

Anyway, I am not sure what you are running for exhaust, but the back pressure from a stock 1.5-inch with a kitty helps the low end vs. the 2-inch open exhaust. In my experience though, the difference between a strong running engine is far more noticeable on the low-end than the exhaust stuff. I had ( and still have actually) the same problem. I went with an 8-valve 1.6 and am still underimpressed.

If I could only figure out how to stick my Powerstroke in there....... :D

Put a 16v 1.6 in there.....that will solve the carb problem and the low end problem!

see now I have heard both about the 1.6... cant rev um like a 1.3 and they have close to the same bottom end??

Mike-

I ordered a torque 1 cam from hawk. I hope it helps. And then a 1.75 exaust with a cat and back to low end ??

Mike-

I only have the 8-valve, but at least the low end is stronger than the 1.3. I think the 1.75 -in exhaust is the best compromise. I'd like to know what you think of the cam. I've been thinking of that myself.

sounds like you're on the right track, anyway.
ps- E.F.I. is good:D

OH the low end is much better!!!
I have 37's and a 6:1 and can crawl all day long!

The Powerstroke option you wished for is called the VW 1.9 Turbo Diesel - if you don't drive in the wet much I would even recommend the new electronic DI version. I run a 96 Canadian IDI Turbo and with stock gears I often use 2nd lo (for mud) - with your gears you would be set. If you have an off-road only rig the little 1.6 NA from a US Rabbit would be fine for crawling too - turbo doesn't kick in until 1500-2000 rpm anyway. And diesels have the benifit of being fuel injected already. Kits for adapting the VW to Zuk trans are getting fewer and farther between, however (Keltec, who made my kit, is out of that biz). RockyRoad was looking into a new version I think. Any way - diesel is definitly the king of bottom end torque.

What is the redline in the diesel? What is your top highway speed? How loud is it compared to a stock engine? I want one :D

I believe the redline is about 5000 rpm - it is governed, anyway, at about that. Top speed? I don't know, I haven't taken it over 80mph - it felt like more was left. 5000 would be about 100, I think. This is with stock gears of course - the reduction in high range is the downer for the diesel. Where with the 1.3 I wish for lower gears, 5th was useless with 31's, now I would like to do a 1:1 high range t-case (divorced toy would work) and still bigger tires. Stock gears work well for me in low range, but I don't have ANY rock crawling up here. I wouldn't mind a bit lower low range, of course, but the torque of the diesel is really great. Oilburner does rocks, you could find out what he does for gears. PPillard is setting up a VW/Toy adapter that I plan to try also, and would be selling my Keltec plate at that time (hint hehe).
OH, loudness. Not very loud. Turbos tend to kill the noise in the exhaust. I ran straight header for awhile, ended right below my feet. Too boomy - stuck on a glass pack, ended up under the bed. Quiter, but I can't hear my turbo spool up anymore:( :D so I plan to remove the muffler and get an exhaust that actually gets out from under the rig.
Horsepower(you were gonna' ask) - My rig should be about 70-ish, stock, no smoke ever. Intercooled, turned up for a little smoke, I hear 120 easy, 150 even. The new 1.9 is 90 hp, and VW races one with way over 220 hp, no smoke.
Fuel economy ( you were gonna ask that too)
I haven't got better than 28.5mpg at 60-65mph on a commute, but the diesel doesn't do its best at that rpm. I heard 40 mpg mentioned on the Pirate for a non-turbo - sounds pretty amazing if they have the gearing I have. I might get that if I can get the higher gears on the highway. Off road should be really good too, diesels don't consume much at low throttle.

A smoker whould be cool but I need the rabbit like response for hopping up walls and ledges.... I use alot of throttle to pinball through stuff but need a bit more crawl torque to slow down when I need it.

Mike-

Not my kind of terrain where you are at, but......
Do you mean you go from low rpm to screaming high and keep it there? This would be where a diesel isn't so good. The torque is instant, just doesn't climb super high. My off-turbo response is great. I just don't have the perfect motor for mud - for instance when I want wheel speed I use 2nd lo, but if it was real thick and nasty I might have trouble getting going in it. Once the turbo spools up it spins the tires nicely in 2 lo, and this is all stock gears and tractor 31's. I would think you would want a motor where you let out the clutch, step on on it, and it goes - up, through, and over - which the diesel does do very well. The governor kicks in at 5000rpm, but you get the most work done at 3-4k. I would suspect the VW diesel would surprise you with the way it can climb a ledge. However, if you don't like diesels to begin with, they might not be the thing for you. You were asking about more torque for 1.3. I think the only real solution might be the supercharger if you need to keep the 1.3 engine. There just isn't much that can be done - more of the mods seem to be for more hp, not low end torque. How a about a short, low quantity burst of nitrous? I realize is seems excess, but a little bit combine with a little squirt of fuel might be a good short term solution. The nitrous is added just for the oxygen content - you don't have to add so much you double the hp, you could fine tune it to give you "that little extra" you are looking for.

NITROUS on a Sami.... shibby..:smokin: the super charger is like 2K:( and at that $ id look into a 2.5 efi wrangler engine t999 and 4.1 231.... but the weight is sucky...
The rig is so hrad to break with the little motor.....37's and d 44's and no breakage from to much throttle... at about 5grand hoping up a wall and beating the hell out it no snappy... so I think a smoker would get pissed at that kind of abuse... mabye im stuck with the 1.6 ...new post
Mike-

Originally posted by Snowball
... at about 5grand hoping up a wall and beating the hell out it no snappy... so I think a smoker would get pissed at that kind of abuse...

Just go diesel with propane :eek: . That would be just as snappy as you please, and I believe propane injection for diesels is pretty cheap. I now a LOT of people are adding propane to their powerstrokes for screamin horsepower on demand.