Club 80-90 Forums

Any ideas on how i can improve the performance of my LDH T25 1.6 Diesel panel van?
I runs at a maximum of 100 kph approx(63mph) but then when a hill comes along it slows right down.
Would chaning the Glow plugs improve the power or is this a stupid assumption?

Any other ways apart from driving it off a cliff

Put in a AAZ 1.9 TD Sounds about normal for a n/a 1.6D, just go with the flow,

[quote="MattyGreg05"]Any ideas on how i can improve the performance of my LDH T25 1.6 Diesel panel van?quote]

Replace the diesel engine with a Singer sewing machine motor but beware
the massive increase in power!!!

Changing the glow plugs will make no difference, they don`t power the engine

1.6D gives around 50 BHP on a very good day, and the van weighs 2 tons so that is the problem in a nutshell. The 1.6 TD turbo engine gives more power, about an extra 15 BHP but is still underpowered. 1.9TD AAZ engine gives a little more power, but quite a bit more torque, which is the pulling power that makes you get up hills better without dropping to much speed.

Either live with the low power of the 1.6D, or budget for an engine conversion, 1.9 TD AAZ is the usual one for diesels, BUT you will need quite a few extra parts to start with as you have a NON-turbo diesel at the moment. Diesel conversions will always be limited by standard gearbox ratios. Modern low revving TDI /HDI type engines don`t rev like the old diesels, so you wont get the benefit of their low revving torque or power without working them too hard. Gearbox ratio swaps arn`t cheap

Subaru petrol engine looks like a good conversion, fits nicely, easy to find a full car at reasonable money, recognised conversion so there are quite a few poeple who have done one, and manufactured parts to make the conversion go smoothly. Also, you will easily double your BHP over the 1.6D engine. Downside will be fuel consumption will increase, but the `van will be a whole lot more enjoyable to drive.