Club 80-90 Forums

getting a bit sick and tired of all my engines blowing up and have come to realise their limitations(jx) so im looking to go bigger(afn) and was wondering what donor vehicle i should be looking out for?? and why?

If you want it for an 'easy' install into a T3 bus, I'd say a B4 Passat (if you can find one !) as its got the preferred transverse block, and the engine harness is a nice separate chunk unlike the Golf3. It's quite an old car now though so possibly not easy to come by. Another option is the Sharan, though the harness is one massive thing and a bugger to get out (if you do one, look out for that last M6 nut holding the dash in from the engine bay side).

Again Sharan,Galaxy or Alhambra, yes the loom is a pig but the engine itself is made for the job allowing you to keep all factory JX mounts, plus no viscous fan coupling to remove as found on B5 passats

Early sharan has a different loom and its easier to get out and more familiar in design...there is a tamper proof torx bit on the ecu bracket that is behind the speedo that is a reet c unit to undo but not bad other than that...dash stays in.

1z is a real good engine as well I'm pleased to say.

The passat aux set up puts the alternator up quite high, so it touches the engine lid.

lloydy wrote:The passat aux set up puts the alternator up quite high, so it touches the engine lid.

its going in a doka so no problems with space

max and caddy wrote:1z is a real good engine as well I'm pleased to say.

there are loads of olds passats over here still, was it the early b4 that had the 1z and isn´t that the 90 bhp

lloydy wrote:The passat aux set up puts the alternator up quite high, so it touches the engine lid.

It does..and can't be swapped for a "golf" or sharan one either...and that put me off using the 3B unit. Still works fine but more spinney things to fall off.

Early transverse passat (3A) has 1z and Afn in tdi form.

1z is 90, Afn is 110. In theory..

you can swap over to the golf style but it involves retapping the block and getting a little bit inventive with ps mounts ect. Mr shettle did run through for me what needed doing, he made it sound quite straight forward.
lots of passat/A4/A6 AFN engines about though

Yes...they are more plentiful and as the average price of a tdi lump seems to be about £175 complete its not worth being fussy...unless you are fussy of course..

Despite what some might say Jason...a longer gearbox is required...I proved this fact by using a standard box and a custom one. After 3000 rpm the benefits of a tdi are lost and mpg suffers.

max and caddy wrote:Yes...they are more plentiful and as the average price of a tdi lump seems to be about £175 complete its not worth being fussy...unless you are fussy of course..

Despite what some might say Jason...a longer gearbox is required...I proved this fact by using a standard box and a custom one. After 3000 rpm the benefits of a tdi are lost and mpg suffers.

I'd jump at a complete passat engine for £175!
Have to agree on the gearing, i've got to be running the lowest ratio's. 3150rpm@62mph.. The drop off in mpg if i drive any faster is big and it also gets a lot better if i keep to around 2600-2800. Infact i'd call that rev range the sweet spot, nice torque, quiet engine.

lloydy wrote:

max and caddy wrote:Yes...they are more plentiful and as the average price of a tdi lump seems to be about £175 complete its not worth being fussy...unless you are fussy of course..

Despite what some might say Jason...a longer gearbox is required...I proved this fact by using a standard box and a custom one. After 3000 rpm the benefits of a tdi are lost and mpg suffers.

I'd jump at a complete passat engine for £175!
Have to agree on the gearing, i've got to be running the lowest ratio's. 3150rpm@62mph.. The drop off in mpg if i drive any faster is big and it also gets a lot better if i keep to around 2600-2800. Infact i'd call that rev range the sweet spot, nice torque, quiet engine.

My 1Z cost £200 as an engine destined for a T4 conversion, then bought a full sharan afn runner for £250....got £180 back at the scrapyard on that one minus the engine and bits I wanted! Last was Afn from a A4 removed with clocks and loom ecu etc for £100. Literally tripping over TDIs round here!

There's a 1z on ebay now at £130 I think as well...

i´ll figure it out after overland and see if i can collect something on that trip, maybe bribe Andy with loads of tdi conversion parts into helping me

I got a 1999 Shazza here ready for the panel van . Took advice from those that know and am going to go for the easiest install possible . Will owe me a few quid come the final shakedown but I thought that money well spent as I wanted to pull the engine and loom myself for the experience and also I've had a good chance to live with the car for a while and check its a good 'un.

On the other hand the mk3 golf Aaz that I bought will have supplied its engine FOC as I've broken it slowly and made my money back plus the engine plus all the parts I wanted for my golf.