Club 80-90 Forums

Hi can anyone help or give some sound advice

I've 1990 1.9 watercooled van had a recon engine put in 2 years ago but driving home from france this summer about 100 miles outside of dieppe engine started sounding rough it got home but is alittle poorly!https://club8090.co.uk/forum/posting.php?mode=post&f=37# A friend who's a good mechanic but not loads of experience with buses came and took a look and ultimately there is no oil pressure in the engine. At this point I should point out that my technical knowledge is limited I've looked at parts of the forum but when they get specific on technical stuff it goes a bit over my head!!

So the problem/thoughts going through my head are is the engine savable? having driven that distance on it I'm reluctant to spend possibly best part of £250 getting new oil pump fitted to then find engine is still not fit for purpose. I've also had said to me that the 1.9 water cooled engine isn't the most reliable, and my experience of two engines is may be confirming it.

So do I go for a conversion? how easy (for my mate a trained mechanic) is it to convert. I'd like economy but also bit of umph! I've seen the wiki section on golf and suburu engines but again my ignorance in techie bits let me down. Currently its got a standard 5 speed gear box in situ but I'm guessing if you change the engine does the gear box need changing? does an engine conversion depreciate the value of the van? can you put a diesel engine from another bus easily into what was formaly a petrol I know there are alot of questions in there but I'd love to here what other people think thanks and HELP!!!!!

My money would be for a petrol conversion but using some parts from a 1.6d engine and mounting bars fitted in a T25.The petrol engine would be a 2E or AGG code engine as fitted to golf seat sharran passat mid 90s onwards.The engines are cheap as chips and easilly obtainable i suggest looking on ebay to see what i mean.The parts you require are t25 engine bars and mounts 1.6d angled sump a gearbox bell housing + input shaft and oil pump with the pick up for the angled sump .You need a ECU & wiring loom suitable for the engine code 2E or AGG.The engines are slanted when fitted with the diesel bell housing and some inlet manifolds fitted to them touch the engine bay side wall this requires making the side wall to give clearance.The exhaust manifold needs a custom down pipe made up to fit the silencer.The power output and cost for these engines to me seem worth while doing it. Heres a link to a thread on the brickyard about this subject http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/mkiii ... 52300.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Oh your 5 speed gearbox once fitted with a diesel bell housing is suitable for this engine.

reliability of the original engine?

well most vans are around 25 years old and done lots of miles on there original engine, so yes they are reliable.

if they are looked after that is.


have you looked after yours? if you have i presume you renew the coolant every 2/3 years? dont drive above 65mph for long periods ect

if factory advised servicing isant followed then they dont last like they should!

a new engine(you cant get one) is prob around £3000 that way it will do 100000+miles , but people dont like spending that sort of money so you just have to take your chances 2nd hand.

whatever engine you fit /convert to its still 2nd hand and its all a gamble

Thanks camper the agg engine conversion looks a promising one and they certainly look cheaper than a recon. And billy739 my van couldn't go above 65mph it was always a steady 55 with tails of traffic behind me!!!!thanks tho