Engine and Transmission Tech

Great to see that you are joining us Matthew. I find that Craigslist and the Pick-N-Pull sites are very helpful in looking for a donor engine or trans.
[www.picknpull.com]
[kansascity.craigslist.org]
Also Search Tempest will search craigslist all over the country in one search, neat tool.
[www.searchtempest.com]

I would like to clarify to everyone that the VW diesel i am going to use is the TDI engine. This is due to the fact that it combines good horsepower, torque and mpg. Also, my mom would kill me if i got a V8, but lets not get into that :P. My budget is low, so money is very definitely a concern. If you do find anything Calvin, I would be quite greatful, as finding a TDI engine is not easy in the states. Looked through 20+ newer model VWs in the junkyard and every one of them was gasoline. I'm starting a new thread in the general MG forum right after this post. Internet research has turned up a few TDIs, but I'm still trying to find the best deal. Wish me luck :D.

-Matt

Thanks for the search engines Bill, I've been looking to find a broader way to browse Craigslist and Pick-N-Pull. Going to each individual Pick-N-Pull's site takes serious time xD.

-Matt

Matthew, car-part.com and picnpull.com have lots if you look at Golf,Beetle,Passat and Jetta 1.9 Turbo Diesel. Look for 94 and up, good runner or under 100,000 miles. Not cheap though at $1500-2500 for most. Did you know the block is aluminum and the entire engine only weighs 280 lb!

Quote:

Also, my mom would kill me if i got a V8, but lets not get into that

Mathew,

Funny you should mention that. I'm going to give my V8 to my grandson (you remember Nico), but both his mom and his grandma said they'd kill me if I gave it to him before he's 25. Your mom would probably not kill you, but I'm sure she'd kill your dad (and your uncle too)!

But I'm INNOCENT!!!!

Jim

xD, yeah... I love mom so much but well, I can never say anything bad about her she's awesome <3. And yes i might fear for dad's safety...

-Matt

Wow... that light? That is certantly interesting in terms of weight distribution in the car. 280 is nothing. Makes me wonder how the car's weight balance will be. Maybe if i add a blower in the front i could fix the weight problem.... NO. Sorry there, that's dad subliminally messing with my mind and trying to convince me that all cars should run a supercharger.

-Matt

Matthew, You can also find shortblocks,heads,parts and rebuild kits on EBay. Every once in a while a complete motor.

Good to know... I'll do some browsing on eBay..

-Matt

Matthew,

This is the response I received back from my brother through email! After I received this email from my brother, he called for some other business; he said another idea for a swap engine for more power would be the Subaru boxster diesel? He also said the Passat 1984 to 1986 TDI are the years before fly by wire throttle. From what my brother said below, may want to check out the Toyota 4x4 forums?

Email:

Hi Calvin,
All of my TDI contacts are in the UK unfortunately. His best bet is to find an old Passat which has been wrecked and buy it for the engine. Everyone is wanting those engines. Believe it or not theToyota 4x4 owners are swapping them into their rigs as fast as they can find them.

Britt


On 6/15/2012 6:32 AM, Calvin Grannis wrote:



Hi Britt,



There is a 16 year old that is thinking of swapping in a TDI diesel engine in a MGB. He is looking for one on the cheap. Do you have any contacts for this in the states, or out of the states? Not to new of an engine.

Matthew, I was curious about what Kelly mentioned about the gear ratios for the TDI. Stock had a 3.39 differential ratio,3.45 first and .75 5th(OD). If you could find the rare 3.31 MGC gears it would be ideal. The Toyota W55 transmission is pretty close with a 3.5 first. You can find it in 84-88 Toyota 2WD 4 cylinder pickups(check the door data plate). That would also be the bellhousing and flywheel you need. 3.31 ratio was common in Jeep Wagoneer' Dana 44's also. Some years(Quadratrac) had an offset differential so it may be possible to shorten the long side and use another short axle to narrow it. Might be close to MGB width,you would have to measure to be sure.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/16/2012 12:05PM by mgb260.

That is good information that i must keep in mind, but finding the engine is being a pain. Or rather, finding an engine for under 1k is a pain...

-Matt

For that price you probably have to find a private guy parting a wrecked one out. They are in demand for the Toyota 4X4 and Samurai conversions. I think Calvin meant 94-98 for years.

Matt, have you checked Craigslist? This was in the Houston CL but phone number is California so may not work for you but worth checking... [galveston.craigslist.org]. Also LKQ Online might be a source.

We saw a tdi yesterday and there are only three issues, but they are serious ones.

The engine is tall. More measuring is needed and a lot depends on how far the engine can be set back in the chassis but right now it looks like 3 inches would have to come out of the crossmember and that is a seriously deep cut.

The oil filter/cooler housing is bolted to the right rear of the block dead square in the way of the steering shaft. A remote mount is needed and it doesn't look simple.

The turbo is mounted low on the left and will almost certainly want to go where the frame rail is, especially after the crossmember is cut. Even if not, the exhaust vane controller will. That means a custom exhaust and an aftermarket exhaust scroll.

We need to do some more measuring and go out and look as that engine again but given the cost and the added complexity right now it isn't looking really great for this swap.

Otoh, the tdi guy we met thinks an average of 50+ mpg is very likely, headers will be needed in any case, filter relocation is pretty commonplace, and with enough setback it might fit under an RV8 hood. So we shall see. There is still the matter of the cost of course.

Jim

Jim & Matt - had an idea... what do you think of a semi-custom cross member by grafting in some rectangular tube to replace the center section of the stock cross member. Retain the mounting points out.

Can you modify the oil pan?

HA! I just mentioned modifying the oil pan to Dad. xD Looking into it. It looks pretty flat and it is kinda deep so it seems likely to be a possiblility, but I need to look at the engine again to make sure. If i can get an inch more clearance from the oil pan, I will only need to take out 2 inches of the crossmember. Grafting in rectangular tubing is a valid idea, but it is something i would perfer to use as a last resort. The more stock MGB parts I can use, the easier this will be. Hopefully I can avoid modifying the crossmember more than a cut.

-Matt

It looks like a short lengthwise engine as most transverse FWD engines are. If you lose the heater shelf and set back like a lot of Midget conversions do,that would put it behind the crossmember. You can use a small street rod heater under the dash. It is slanted slightly also,so maybe slant more or less for clearance there. Of course then the shifter would be too far back. If you use the Toyota R style bellhousing (large pattern) and use the Colorado/Canyon transmission(more forward shifter) might be perfect.