Almost bought a diesel westy yesterday....

[levi]

So there I was, sitting in a cafe in Venice, when a new listing pops up the craigslist/santa monica. 83 westy with a 1.9 tdi. Within about 10 minutes of her posting the ad I was at her place, checking it out. She wants $7500 for it. Now, I KNOW that the 1.6 is supposed to be a dog when you put down the pedal, but I thought for sure that a 1.9 turbo diesel would have some low end to it. So I got a b i g surprise when I gave it full throttle in 1st and waited while it slowly moved forward.
I have to say that I wouldn't know a 1.9 tdi from anything else, so maybe this was just a 1.6, I don't know. Too bad the interior and exterior were so rough or I would have still considered it. She bought it only in April, and said she had sunk a lot of money in repairs so far, and was afraid of what was next to go wrong. (Nice that she was so honest about that ). Also she said one time she was following a friend in a 1.9 westy/automatic, and her friends westy pulled up hills like she was standing still. Sound like this was a 1.9 tdi? btw, this also has the 5 speed tranny.
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One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[ChesterKV]

Dude,

If it's really a 1.9 diesel turbo then the turbo must be dead. It was wise of you to walk away.
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1984 Wolfsburg 7-passenger stock sunroof
1992 Subaru Legacy EJ22 boxer motor installed.... van is now sold.... currently playing with a 1987 Toyota MR2 with 1.6 liter twin-cam motor. Better than the Subaru boxers....... I'm impressed. Well, okay, in an "apples and oranges" kind of way.

[Wildthings]

A 1.9 TDI is going to have a turbo hanging off of it while a stock 1.6 NA will not. A 1.6 will actually take off pretty quick because the gearing is so low. I have no idea now the 1.9 TDI with highway gearing would do.

[barkeater]

Hey,

First time poster, long time lurker ...
Thanks for all the great information on westies. I have yet to find "the one" for me ... but I keep looking.

Speaking of which, do you guys know any thing about a 1986 1.6L turbo diesel westy? Did they make any improvements from the 1982-3 versions?

[MarkWard]

I just got my 82 TDI conversion on the road. It is a rocket ship off the line. I have to shift to second half way across the intersection. It jumps out front of diesel powered pickups without trying. $7500 sounds very cheap. The cost of a turnkey conversion sorted out could be $10,000 just for the parts and labor. This would not take into account the cost of the chassis. To me there would be no confusion driving a TDI versus a non turbo or a 1600TD.

[captainpartytime]

[danfromsyr]

with the 1.9TDI it would make very good sense to change the R&P
the Diesels were geared VERY low to allow the 1.6na to push them.

my 1.6TD conversion with aircooled trans (highest R&P ratio stock) moves mine along JUST FINE with the right lane highway traffic 65-80mph no problem, if I had a 1.9TD/TDI I would go higher tires and bring my cruising speed up and RPMS down (mpg saver)

one item to note, when going to HIGHER R&P vs Lower is that the 1st and Reverse action are a tad more strained.. only trouble for backing up a very steep driveway.. where the lower gearing crawls right up very nicely.. my drive is flat..

but for $7500 for a CA EMISSIONS EXEMPT TDI camper is a VERY good price.. even though it would like a few more $$$ invested to round out the improvements and maintenance upgrades.

Dan
1980 Turbo Diesel ASI Riviera.

[levi]

[levi]