Club 80-90 Forums

Hello all, I need some pretty basic advice and hoping one of you lovely people can help.

My "unidentified" old diesel engine turned out to be a 1Y after all - we learned this when the crank broke, bent the valves, etc and we finally pulled it out for a proper look.

I'm in Spain, at a countryside mechanic who seems to know his stuff and comes well recommended. He's super busy, charges 35euro/hr, and wants me to just put another engine in. No time for rebuilds, and at 3-900euro for a replacement it looks like the cheaper option anyway. (2K +vat minimum for a rebuilt engine with only a year's guarantee.)

So I'm shopping for a new old engine, and not a lot of actual 1Ys out there. I've seen a few 1.9TD AAZs, but my understanding is these are not as simple to swap out. I think I read somewhere here the gear ratios need changing?

A couple of dealers have offered me 9N1 engines 1.9SDI. Am I correct that this option is even more complex to install than the AAZ?

Similar question for a 1.9D 1X motor from a T4, although from what I can see of the specs for that it's no better than the 1Y anyway.

Someone else offered a 1.9SDI from a Seat Ibiza, which they list as being a 1Y engine. Does anyone know if that is correct and it's a straight swap?

Finally, if I can't get a like-for-like swap and we have to start shoehorning things in or messing with gear ratios, is it worth looking at something bigger? There's a 2.4 D from a T4, also listed as being a 1Y engine, and another one that's listed as an AAB. What's involved in using one of these?

For ref, my van is a 1980 model and had an undocumented engine change 30-ish years ago. My understanding is that the early vans were all air-cooled petrol engines, so my water cooling must all be custom. I can't say for sure what else is non-standard or even what my current gearbox set-up is.

These vans sure are adventures, aren't they?

It is probably by far the easiest to do a straight 1Y swap, although I have looked for them as well and didn't find much.

Please, anyone correct me if i'm wrong, but the 1Y and AAZ should be very similar engines, but the AAZ is turbocharged and the 1Y is not. They should therefore be fine with the same gear ratios. Have you checked the underside of your gearbox for the code? Maybe you can find out what your ratio is.

Getting an SDI to work is more complicated, as they are electronic injection you either need to convert to e-throttle and fit an ecu and everything, or you need to put your old mechanical fuel pump on the newer engine. My mechanic says its fine but that sort of stuff is for now out of my league. I don't know anything about seat or t4 engines.

You should probably try to get another 1Y - according to Wikipedia they can be found in the following vehicles, including some by SEAT:

• Audi 80 (1Y: 08/89-12/91)
  
• SEAT Ibiza Mk2 (1Y: 02/93-06/99)
  
• SEAT Cordoba (1Y: 09/93-06/99)
  
• SEAT Toledo (1Y: 05/91-03/99)
  
• SEAT Inca (1Y: 11/95-06/03)
  
• Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Passat B3 (1Y: 05/89-09/93)
  
• Volkswagen Polo 6N (1994–2001)
  
• Volkswagen Vento A3 (1992–1998, not available in the US Jetta)
  

Apparently VW made a version of the 1Y called an AEF, which Skoda used, but the consensus seems to be to avoid these. The layout of the dipstick etc doesn't work as well in a T25 engine bay as the 1Y, the fuel pump is trash, and some of the other ancillary items (water pump, alternator, etc) are also not as good.

Thanks for the confirmation guys, I'll focus on 1Y engines.

Rik wrote: ↑12 Feb 2025, 16:31 Please, anyone correct me if i'm wrong, but the 1Y and AAZ should be very similar engines, but the AAZ is turbocharged and the 1Y is not. They should therefore be fine with the same gear ratios.

I think I read somewhere on these forums that the AAZ has more torque and should rev lower, so you need a higher gear ratio to reach motorway cruising speed. Which I believe is 50mph?!

You could fit an AEF engine (like out of a Polo or Skoda Felicia). It's very similar to a 1Y. There are plenty available on eBay in Spain, and they are quite cheap.
I fitted one of these, and it has done more than 50K miles since without missing a beat.

I posted a thread on Brickyard giving details of the fitting here.....https://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/1-6c ... KW=#413096

Any questions please ask.

 

clift_d wrote: ↑12 Feb 2025, 17:18
Apparently VW made a version of the 1Y called an AEF, which Skoda used, but the consensus seems to be to avoid these. The layout of the dipstick etc doesn't work as well in a T25 engine bay as the 1Y, the fuel pump is trash, and some of the other ancillary items (water pump, alternator, etc) are also not as good.

I really must comment on this, as my experience with the AEF has been nothing but positive.
Yes, They were used in Skodas, and VW also used them in Polos. The dipstick is an easy modification to use the 1.7 item (explained in my thread).The fuel pump takes a little more understanding, maybe (also explained in my thread) but once properly connected is as good as any other. I don't understand how the water pump and alternator (alternator is Bosch) can be worse than others, and what does "etc" refer to?


I have seen a lot of negative comment about these engines, much of it based on hearsay, but my experience, based on real facts has been nothing but positive. It would be a pity if the AEF was rejected on that basis. It's basic but works well.

colinthefox wrote: ↑14 Feb 2025, 12:13 You could fit an AEF engine...

Any questions please ask.

I showed this comment to my mechanic, he pulled out his phone, and five minutes later announced he has a local supplier with an AEF engine. I'll let you know how we get on.

Thank you so much for that.

Make sure you get the injection pump, alternator and connectors, power steering pump (even if you don't have power steering).

Update: found an AEF engine and my mechanic has been tinkering with it for about a week. Hopefully that's on and off, not 40hrs of work!

New timing kit and water pump fitted. Had some problems refitting the alternator mountings and had to retap the hole to accommodate the bolt. No dramas as of yet, engine should be in within a couple of days.

But it's Spain so I won't hold my breath!