Club 80-90 Forums

In the past someone has replaced the engine in my T25 with a VW DX K-jetronic 1.8 Gti Engine. It seems to run well but I think will need a service soon as the crank seal is leaking a little so starting to think a replacement could be a possibility.

I like the idea of a diesel but think I would have a pain in having to sort fuel tank etc. Another option is a AGG from a Gold as I know my way around them pretty well. I think Subaru etc might be more money than I can justify.

My wife and I want to do road trips around Europe etc so I guess I am looking for reliability, fuel efficiency and ease of repair if breakdown.

Should I just keep the DX 1.8 Gti engine and get her tuned up and happy? Or time for something new and more efficient?

Did I read that correctly: replace the engine just because the crank seal is a bit weepy?
If its running well the cost of the fuel on a big road trip will be a fraction of the cost of a conversion, unless going diesel.
But why would you when the van probably has petrol gear ratios...
A Subaru swap will eat about 5 or 6k if you are buying in the skills.
Just my take on it, save your time & money and enjoy driving it!

No not replace beacause of it, but I am thinking of dropping the block to replace all the wearable bits, so if i was to get it out anyway might not been too much more effort to just pop another in. I enjoy the mechanics side and would be tempted by a simple conversion like a AGG or 1Z Tdi myself as a project as my engine has a lot of the parts like sump etc that I would need. I wouldn't be confident with a Subaru though.

The gear box at the moment I am unsure of its health. I think I remember it is a DG? but could be wrong. I guess it came from this vans original engine which for some reason I thought might be a diesel, but again could be wrong as I got it with the 1.8 Gti in it and don't have the documents to hand.

The gear box has 4 gears and seems to be fine for the engine I have with no over revving, although after yanking it out of a stuck gear once when the clutch cylinder went it has a lot of play in the gear stick. pops out of first and crunches when changing gear if I don't double clutch. I am hoping I just damaged the linkage and not the gears themselves, I will have to see when I can have a look at it.

If you have a PB then the AGG would be the obvious easy upgrade to something a bit more modern, GaryD's guide and other info readily available for doing that
I think you need the fi fuel tank though for later engine, on yours have they used the golf fuel pump and does the pump run hot and cavitate when it's really hot and working hard, can be an issue if tank is n/a
Gearing wise you want to be running petrol box if 4 speed, an ABB would be nice, but it wants a rebuild so you modify/change the gearing when doing that if necessary once you know what you actually have

bmouthboyo wrote:1.8Gti K-jet - What would you do?

As the DX Golf/Scirocco/Passat motor is common in breakers yards and so not expensive, and as you already have one, why not buy another (good) one. Dead cheap option and in response to your question "What would you do" = that's what I would do. (I like the DX engine and wish I had gone that route 6 years ago, when I had the usual WBX issues).

Slight aside = I know the DX (and it's carb equivalent) pretty well (having owned them in Sciroccos) My question is "what is the difference between a DX and a PB? (is it Digifant v K-Jet?)

Slight aside II = I know the AGG is 2Ltr, but it's bhp is only 2 more than a DX. Does it offer more torque or summat? (making it better for a T25 than the DX). I know there is some differences in injection system and wiring making it a bit of a bigger job to fit.

Sorry to be asking questions about summat that is not within my field, I just like to know stuff

Good points raised there John. 2ltr is longer stroke so will make more torque with a broader delivery band.
Also a fully recon motor will always perform better than a well-used one.

I would go AGG for touring / enjoyment and if £ allows change cam as Elvis suggests (search posts) for even better power delivery I.e. More useable torque where u need it. Engines are plentiful and ten a penny. Or in real cash. There are people on here who would help source a unit with loom. If u had cash though get a DJ wbx built- more fun having an original and similar bhp!

So do you think the dx engine is good then? I assumed the fuel efficiency must be much worse than a electronic diesel. If it's tuned well would I get comparable mpg as if get from a AGG?

sorry i've always found the k jet variants to have much better spread of trq than the digipants , and i've owned lots of them

i stick with the DX or perhaps looks into a 2.0 bottom end. 1.8 head, with cam etc ..

stick with what you have , replace the leaky bit and upgrade it..

only other conversion i'm considering is the 1.8t or a 2.0 TFSI

with my tintop fully loaded, kids , wife camping gear etc , kent cam fitted i got 32 mpg on a recent trip .
id say only a pd conversion would be better for fuel . but thats a major expense .

I thought about a 2.0l bottom end but wasn't sure if that would then effect the clearance of the cover, and thought bespoke cams would be expensive. Nice to know it's not too bad a choice at present. Cheers

Aidan wrote:If you have a PB then the AGG would be the obvious easy upgrade to something a bit more modern, GaryD's guide and other info readily available for doing that
I think you need the fi fuel tank though for later engine, on yours have they used the golf fuel pump and does the pump run hot and cavitate when it's really hot and working hard, can be an issue if tank is n/a
Gearing wise you want to be running petrol box if 4 speed, an ABB would be nice, but it wants a rebuild so you modify/change the gearing when doing that if necessary once you know what you actually have

No PB Digifant here, mine is the old DX mechanical injection. Fuel tank wise i am not sure what FI tank is? But I assume is one with a pickup pump inside ? Mine uses an inline VW golf pump, but it is so loud and sometimes gets poor delivery if low on fuel due to no pickup. I would like to replace this with something more quiet, but not sure what route that would take? New pump? Modified tank with pickup?

FI tank = Fuel Injection tank, they have a larger outlet.

If you replace the engine and injection.. I would be interested in that.. Well.. my 16 year old lad.. he is doing up a Golf Syncro and a good running engine with ancillaries would be handy.. (current engine is stuffed)

Don't know which fanny mold size/shape you have on a k jet but if you put a 2l bottom end on it pushes the fannymold Into the side of the van/engine bay.

If itS a long term keeper then AAG is the way forward IMHO. Relatively cheap to do, and as bruddah Jim says, right side of 30mpg. Mine pulled five of us round France in a fully loaded doka(vindic rammed to roof) last summer and still managed late 20s.

Price of petrol v diesel/ installation cost/mpg it will take years ( on a FB page recently It worked out that it would take someone between five and ten years to recoup cost of gti v diesel based on there mileage) by far best bang per buck conversion out there, as can be seen at its popularity of late. Engines plentiful and if yours goes pop you can put a new engine in for the same sort of money it costs for someone to look at a WBX and tell you it's "feck"

Just cos its you I'll let that one slide