Club 80-90 Forums

The 1.9WBX in my '88 caravelle is starting to show its age with numerous oil leaks, coolant weaping from the head gaskets and an exhaust thats blowing in a few places. Add to that the gearbox thats jumping out of 5th and it looks like its gonna need a fair chunk of cash throwing at it.

As my missus can't drive a manual due to disability i was thinking of fitting an autobox with maybe a 2l AGG or 2E engine (running LPG) on it using an adapter plate.

I know its a more difficult conversion than if it was a diesel to start with but can diesel water hoses be attached to the original wbx main radiator pipes or would a complete new system be needed of diesel specific parts?

I suppose i could always mount the engine at 15 degrees like in a golf and just raise the boot floor to clear, which does away with the need to modify the chassis rail for inlet manifold clearance (and a diesel sump etc) but then the diesel water hoses wouldn't fit would they?

I went the other way and got rid of an auto.

I think rowlesly on the yard fitted an 2e to an auto at 15 degrees in a doka though.his thread has loads of info and he's more than willing to help with dimensions. You''d need the gear box mount, both auto drive shafts, water pipes would be a suck it and see what fits job perfect time to get rid of the rusty metsal pipes if that's what you've got. Also you'd need the Selector and linkage. Fuel pump and injection lines. As well as fabrication skills to modify the diesel engines bars if your doing 15 degree. All doo-able all not overly hard to come across.

Cheers.
I've been reading rowlesy's thread for a few years now. His engine mounts on the original diesel bars look simple enough to make if i went with a 15 degree install.

Its just really whether the diesel water hoses can be attached to the original wbx main radiator pipes that i'm wondering about. They look like they could be a bugger as mine has the coolant tower just infront of the bulkhead.

Selector and linkage etc are pretty easy to find as more people go the other way (auto to manual).