Author |
Message |
vanagonforever Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2007 Posts: 211 Location: Baltimore, MD
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:42 am Post subject: Where can you find a good TDI? |
|
|
I'm curious where people go to find TDI engines without a ton of miles on them to use for conversions. I've been watching the junk yards and craigslist for several months and I've never seen a TDI by itself or in a wrecked vehicle being parted out. Is there a better source out there? Can you speak to insurance companies directly and try to request to be contacted if one becomes available? What am I missing here? _________________ 1986 2WD 2.1L WBX Vanagon Weekender
1983.5 1.9L WBX Vanagon Westfalia |
|
Back to top |
|
|
westyventures Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2004 Posts: 2305 Location: Oregon Outback
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:05 am Post subject: Re: Where can you find a good TDI? |
|
|
bikenerd wrote: |
I'm curious where people go to find TDI engines without a ton of miles on them to use for conversions. I've been watching the junk yards and craigslist for several months and I've never seen a TDI by itself or in a wrecked vehicle being parted out. Is there a better source out there? Can you speak to insurance companies directly and try to request to be contacted if one becomes available? What am I missing here? |
I search www.car-part.com
1996-97 Passat, 1997-early '99 Jetta are the best engines to fit under the lid, in stock Vanagon diesel configuration. There are rarely any of these under 100K miles. I sell brand new long blocks, but you'd still need all of the bolt-on parts.
I personally don't worry about miles as much, because when you are swapping parts over like the oil pan, just replace the rod and main bearings. Ideally you're going to want to pull the head on any used engine no matter the mileage, so that you can completely remove the carbon buildup in the intake ports and around the valves. You could replace the rings at the same time. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Steelhead Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007 Posts: 1791 Location: Kentfield, CA
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Where can you find a good TDI? |
|
|
bikenerd wrote: |
I'm curious where people go to find TDI engines without a ton of miles on them to use for conversions. I've been watching the junk yards and craigslist for several months and I've never seen a TDI by itself or in a wrecked vehicle being parted out. Is there a better source out there? Can you speak to insurance companies directly and try to request to be contacted if one becomes available? What am I missing here? |
I found these guys a while back but haven't talked to them.
http://www.qualitygermanautoparts.com/Mainframe.htm _________________ '77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
devesvws Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2004 Posts: 1540 Location: madison va
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
looky here in my neck of the woods http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/pts/872299595.html you might want to ask around at a salvage yard, if or who, buys wrecked late model cars at the auction. Be up front with them, and tell them you are looking for the whole car, and what you want off of the car, and they can have the rest after you are done. Have cash in hand, and ask how much would it cost to make some calls to get the ball rolling. Bend over backwards and kiss there ass, you are asking them a favour, remember most of the guys at junk yards dont want to lift a finger. Fingers are for counting money and they have plenty of it , but sometime's you get lucky and find a guy that treats you like a person. but I would say that the vw tdi in your neck of the woods will be a very hard to find car wrecked. But thats the way I would go if it was me. I will say, there was this auction I went to for over 10 yrs, I'd go 2 times a month. They had over 300 cars every other week and not once did a vw tdi come in. A large wrecker service might be a good place too, they're the first stop before the auction or junk yard. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
vanagonforever Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2007 Posts: 211 Location: Baltimore, MD
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That's funny - I've seriously searched DC craigslist off and on for months looking for TDIs and the day I post a question about it one pops up. Go figure. _________________ 1986 2WD 2.1L WBX Vanagon Weekender
1983.5 1.9L WBX Vanagon Westfalia |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Grizzly_black Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2006 Posts: 225
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I bought a TDI from Thomas at Quality German Auto parts. He sold me the engine complete, the complete harness/ECU and all the basic parts that are needed to convert my Syncro. I haven't had a chance to open the engine up yet but it is suppose to have around 50K on it. The engine looks hardly used all cast iron is still black (not rusted) and the aluminum parts do not have any corrosion. I will let you know when I open it up how it looks.
If you buy a TDI from Thomas talk to Karl Mullendore first to see what parts you will need. I bought some extra stuff that Karl advised me not to use. I trust Karl knows his stuff. He installs them and Thomas just sells them.
Good luck and check out Karls web site I have learned a bunch already.
Grizz |
|
Back to top |
|
|
allsierra123 Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2006 Posts: 1462 Location: Tecate, Baja California MX
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Canada is your best bet if you dont mind driving to get it. _________________ 95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold |
|
Back to top |
|
|
FNGRUVN Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2007 Posts: 2237 Location: Fort Collins, CO
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Check outwww.ridesafely.com. They're an auctioneer for insurance companies I think. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
devesvws Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2004 Posts: 1540 Location: madison va
|
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
bikenerd wrote: |
That's funny - I've seriously searched DC craigslist off and on for months looking for TDIs and the day I post a question about it one pops up. Go figure. |
thats funny i thought you lived in ca but balt md thats even better let us know if you bought it. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
gator70 Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Santa Cruz
|
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
My suggestion. A professional 96-98 TDI conversion now running in a vanagon trouble free can be bought for $5000 -$6000. You take this van and carefully pull parts and install it in yours. Then junk the rest. Contact me for the plug and play setup. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jackbombay Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007 Posts: 2723 Location: Eastern Idaho
|
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: Where can you find a good TDI? |
|
|
A fantastic source of hard to find parts IMO. I would try to find an engine close enough that you could go check it out before you bought it.
I've also found that the "call for price" adds there are often the cheapest prices. _________________
Gas struts to pop your top easily!
Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies
Samba ad here.
DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|