ADVICE ON CHANGING ENGINE, YES OR NO??

[thelyonsfamily]

Hi all
So, bought a 1985 1.6 TD Hi top at the weekend. Knew it had some issues but thought they were exhaust related...they were so it needs new exhaust system, but on investigating further also needs new turbo. Sent turbo off to Midland turbos and needs a rebuild at £350. So after adding all this up its quite a bit Up till now the van been well looked after, only 4 owners and loads of service history etc but it has been round clock twice The question is, is it better to fix and repair what's already there or buy a 2nd hand Passat 1.9 tdi engine we have seen and replace it with that (though we know nothing of its history) ??

Advice please

Thanks

[keith]

Dropping a passat tdi engine in is a great option.....but if you're not a spanner man its going to cost a lot of money.

[thelyonsfamily]

Luckily hubby is a spanner man

[keith]

Tdi transforms the van done correctly.....but there are cheaper, easier alternatives

[Cyrus]

As Keith says TDI is great and best option. IF you have money to spend. My option would be go for a petrol golf mk3 gti engine for cheapest upgraded

[thelyonsfamily]

hi keith thanks for reply but have found a 1.9 tdi for 200 only done 112000 from a 1999 Passat think lots of life left in lump yet
what cheaper option would you recommend open to suggestions
our 1.6 might have more serious issues than expected got her last weekend knowing manifold blowing, turbo not spinning up gasses leaking, removed offending parts no manifold gasket on no3 pot studs missing, no4 had one stud missing, turbo had lots of oil in inlet side to manifold so turbo gone, sent to midland turbo needs complete re build £325 plus dredded, managed to remove studs from no3 pot but no4 not playing so helicoil in that one, midland reported contaminants in oil and to check feed and drain to and from turbo done that no probs there.
was just thinking what other monsters lurking inside and is engine to become money pit

[MattBW]

I think there is some wisdom in the "better the devil you know" approach...

You could replace the engine with something else and find that has exactly the same problem or a whole new problem.

£350 for a turbo rebuild isn't that bad from my experience and at high mileage over 100k its not uncommon for the turbo to start to get issues. Turbo issues can be bad if left. It really depends how confident you are in the rest of the engine. If the rest is good, its a cheap fix compared to an engine change both in time and in money.

I have just bought a 1.9 TD for my van but I knew when I bought it the turbo probably needed work. In fact if its going to be worth changing I need to make sure its as good as possible. You could just be swapping one set of problems for a different set.
.

[thelyonsfamily]

mattBW thanks for reply problem don't know history of original engine, or how it runs very well as bought it with manifold then turbo gone so haven't run engine much just as well with amount of oil in turbo would have blown it, at least that would have given answer with one way to go, decision's, decision's, decision 's.

[ermie571]

my tuppence worth.

Get the turbo fixed...bolt it on and go camping in it.

IF the rest of the engine is furbarred....at least you will have a good turbo to sell on....so it won't be money wasted. I don't do diesel...but have heard a properly running 1.6TD is economic (as much as anything wedge shaped is economic) and cruises nicely.

You haven't had it long...see if it suits before you go throwing thousands at it. Seems you have done the basics already to get it on the road. Summer is just round the corner (apparently lol) - use it, read up on the proposed engine change, accumulate all the bits and do the change over winter. Until then...enjoy the bus!!!

Em
xx

(oh - you will also have a engine with a bit of history to sell on for parts or as a runner cos you will have driven it, or had a ride on a flat bed.....but at least you will know....)

[thelyonsfamily]

cheers ernie just what was needed will do and let you know what happens at end of summer wish us luck and by for now ordering turbo rebuild now

[keith]

where abouts are you based

[thelyonsfamily]

keith were in stroud glos going ahead with turbo replace see what happens tnks

[ermie571]

ps...don't blame me if it all goes horribly wrong

Best fuel economy i ever got was 350 miles to the gallon....on the back of a flat bed Cornwall to Kent!!

Em
xx

[thelyonsfamily]

hay no wucking furries em will see if we can beet that mpg

[discipleofsketch]

hi keith thanks for reply but have found a 1.9 tdi for 200 only done 112000 from a 1999 Passat think lots of life left in lump yet

E D I T: removed some hastily written mis-information. Shorter version: tdi conversions vary between quite complicated to very complicated.

Easiest engine swap upgrade from a 1.6 TD (JX) would be an 1.9 TD AAZ from an older passat

E D I T: from a quick google, maybe it is an AFN engine, which I know little/ nothing about, but found this:-

https://www.facebook.com/Tdiconversion" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;