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Thu Nov 20, 2008 1:24 pm

Once upon a time i had a 84 vanagon. i sold it to a friend pretty cheap because i needed the cash to buy my 72 bug. come to find out he never checked coolant or the oil the whole time he owned it (7 months) and seized the almost new (<30000miles) engine. I got it back for free and i want to convert it over to a diesel for the economy side of it. How far over my head am i with this or is it an easy convert? Either way, what engine is best for it? will any diesel VW engine work? any info would be great!

Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:20 pm

Depends what you want to spend. I am partial to my TDI. You will want to check the classifieds here and on ebay. If you can find a diesel bellhousing, engine supports, mounts, pan etc the job can be fairly bolt on with an NA 1.6, turbo 1.6 and the early TDI AHU and AAZ. If you go the route that I did, you will be in store for a lot of fabrication and wiring. You did not specify if this vanagon is a standard or auto.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:45 pm

Thanks for the info. It is an automatic. would it be more practical to buy another gasoline engine and sell it and buy a diesel? I dont really have a whole lot to spend on it really. would a diesel out of a 81 rabbit work? im really pretty new to the water cooled business and even more new to the engine conversion area.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:51 pm

With an auotmatic you need an adapter plate OR import an european automatic 1.9 Diesel trans.
Either way___your in it up to your>>>>>>>>>

Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:09 pm

This is where you want to spend A LOT of your time for VW diesel info. VW Diesel An IDI motor is what you are looking for. Your rabbit is probably a 1.6 n/a motor (45 hp). You want at least a 1.6 turbo diesel unless you don't mind driving REALLY slow. You can slap a turbo on the rabbit 1.6 but would have to run pretty low boost and watch your EGT's very carefully. You can get a 1.6 turbo diesel motor for about $1400 but need probably another $1000 to freshen up the motor/turbo, purchase an oil cooler, intercooler w/ fabricated plumbing, exhaust, motor mounts, gauges, etc..