Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all, hardly ever posted in the mechanical bit, spent most of my time in 'bodywork' whilst sorting that side of things out. My project was going well but having moved house recently It's took a back seat.

Anyway the reason I'm here is I am hoping to fit an engine from scratch and document the task here. (something new to reignite the passion) Now it's nothing amazing just a 1.6D but it may help others in the future and I will obviously interested in your thoughts and ideas.

The story so far....
I bought the van minus an engine as it did have an AAZ but I couldn't afford it with the engine and wasn't sure what I wanted in that department yet.
I did a bit of asking on here late last year regarding what I needed and I am slowly understanding more to do with mechanics.

Grumpy midget very kindly examined the van recently and has given me a few starting points to be sorting.

Tomorrow the plan is to see if the bars on the engine fit my van as they look slightly different to the one bar thats currently in place. Then I need to clean the bell housing up and cover to keep clean.

I have been reading the Bentley manual and beginning to understand more and more.

I will post pics soon.

Cheers, Jon.

My thoughts.......I wouldn't be fitting a 1.6 non turbo.

Jx ......yes
Aaz.....more of a yes.

Fitting any engine will be a task.......why fit one that recognized as being the least use able diesel when the others can be picked up for next to naff all....

If you remember back my jx was offered for 200 quidd.....few other similar.....aaz can be sourced for 300-400



Just my honest view.

I might well get laughed at, but i would rather have a good Jx than a AAZ
Seeing as you dont have any of the turbo stuff, have you thought about a GTI engine. Pretty good mpg and power from what i hear

I think ringo suggested a 1.9 non turbo ...a 1y ?.....also back in january.

Agree with lloydy.....a good jx in a lighter van will do the business.

Again....my view is that for the amount of sorting and knucklescuffing involved......fit something that will push your van along.....not something that will feel like you are dragging the world behind you.

I liked my AAZ, but i was always looking at the temp gauge.
i think you can get a quite modern 1.9 n/a even a electronic fly by wire one

Well heres my theory and plan....

Don't know nowt about engines and whilst my van came without an engine and various other engine related stuff I figured best to aim for a simple set up to begin with. Going for something different felt like trying to run before I could walk.

I picked up an engine with bars, mounts, bars, exhaust, alternator for £100 and a clutch flywheel for £40; a sizeable chunk for a decent price.

If I can get this running on a 1.6 for a few years I will be happy then think about an upgrade.

Keith Lloyd have you always ran faster vans? Keith did you fit the diesel injection? I seem to remember you doing.

Jon.

if you want to know how a tweaked 1.6 na goes then ask xriss !
mm

[quote="Jonnyb416"

Keith Lloyd have you always ran faster vans? Keith did you fit the diesel injection? I seem to remember you doing.

Jon.[/quote]
Hi, no i have had a 1.9dg 2WD drove lovely and had it lpg'd
1.6na westfalia slow, but ok, noisy but good mpg
1.6jx syncro, slower than the 1.9dg and noisier but slightly better mpg
then fitted to same syncro a 1.9 AAZ slightly less noisy, slightly more torque/power and similar mpg but runs a lot hotter
then fitted to same syncro a 1.9 AFN bags of power, bags of torque, much quieter and better mpg
If you already have a 1.6 diesel for £100 then fit it, if speed isnt an issue then you will like the mpg

yeh a tweekd 1.6 if its like mikes is a somewhat perky affair indeed...plus helps if u know how to drive it also as mike deffo dose ...had some fun chasing him down some irish tracks the other week

Didn't know you had bought the engine....

I liked my jx.....apart from when the road sloped upwards.
I now have a ahu tdi.....which feels like two jxs are working together.

How do you make a 1.6na go well then......what kind of mods are we talking....?

well in view of the constant slagging the 1.6 gets, im choosing to keep that to my self but it will sit happy at 60(genuine )all day, and something I did prior to a 2600 mile trip round Ireland gave me 3-5mph more and I have a nice 1Y sat ready to fit but it wont give me much more than I have now so Im staying with the 35mpg+ and 1 pint of oil after all those miles
mm

Ok...wasn't slagging....just suggesting that if you were starting with nothing ...then there were more favored options.

I made a mod to my jx which dramatically improved mine.......so I know what you mean

I know what you mean
the 1.6 na is as bulletproof and solid and cheap and reliable and economical as they come, it will bump start and run all day with no battery or electrics to worry about,
I think some folk confuse the use to which some vans are put, , i like many have several other vehicles and each is best suited to the need you have
mm

It's nice to hear I could eventually tweak the 1.6.
I still stand by my choice of fitting standard. Believe me, it's going to be tough enough for me getting this engine in and running without thinking about injections or turbos or all the other extras the larger engines come with.
Any advice will be more than welcome though and I appreciate all the comments so far even if it is trying to convince me to fit a bigger engine
Jon.