Engine help

[JMallows]

Right then. I am currently toying with the idea of getting a faster car... (arent we all!!)

Anyway.. i thought today, i've kinda become attahched to my car! But... not really then engine. So, been thinking bout about an engine transplant! Obviously thought about a GTi engine, as fairly available? But... i'd like a diesel really, for the economy. Again, would ned to be fairly powerful.. I thought about the Passat (MK3) 1.9TDi? Would this fit at all?!

I'd like to be able to do the fitting myself, but not sure whats involved with a 1.3-1.8GTi? If not... a good garage!

Would there be a better route to go instead though? I could perhaps get mine re-bored?  Though, like i said, i'd like to improve MPG if at all possible?!

Let me know your thoughts, any good roads to take etc... but, bear in mind i am a student!

Also, what would i do about insurance and the like? Would i be able to go through normal insureers, cos it'd still be a 1.3 golf, but with whatever engine?

Cheers fior help!

[theviper]

i would say that changing to diesel would cost load as not only the engine but tank and all fuel line so why get the car changed to LPG i think it is which runs on gas you get more MPG not sure on speed.
if you want me speed but dont have load to spend why not tune the engine a bit  and i have know people change the engine and still pay the insurance for the old engine but if you have a crash you will have not a change of ever seeing your car again or cheap insurance

or last plan go to the selling cars on the site and change car there are lots of good but cheap car hope this help
Pete 

[FBF]

why dont you just go buy a GTi? they are dirt cheap on ebay.

if you ARE going to change your lump then you may as well make it worth the cost and effort and try shoehorning a V8 in there

[rubjonny]

If you want to go for an upgrade, don't bother unless you put in an engine thats better than what you'll find in a std GTI or 16v

I'd look at getting a 2.0 8v or 16v, depending on what your insurance will allow. (in fact ask em how much a 2.0 Passat engine would cost, its identical to the MK3 2.0 GTI, but the insurance may be less  )

At the same time, I'd think about converting your car to CE2 electrics as it will make any future engine conversion much easier

[JMallows]

I wasnt thinking of anything less than GTi... I dont want to simply replace with a GTi cos a) i like my car the way it is... had it for a long time now too... b) It would be too easy!

I could get a Dreg GTi for £450 ish, and do the work myself, but not sure whats involved?!

John, any ideas where i could get my hands on the Passat engine? I was toying with the passat engine, but thought it was 1.9, not 2.0? I suppose the best passat engine would be the GL5... Though i'd rather not butcher such a classic car! What sort of work is involved with the 2.0 litre conversion, would it be a lot harder than the GTi engine?

CE2 electrics?! How exactly are they different anyway!?

[rubjonny]

The 2.0 engine was fitted to the 90 onwards passats, you can tell by looking at the cam cover, if its an alloy one with a VW logo on it with the breather on the left side its the same 2e engine that the mk3 2.0 8v got

CE2 is completly different to CE1, you can tell by checking the hazard switch. If its on the steering column its a CE2, the advantage is that the fusebox is exactly the same as the one fitted to the Corrado, 90+ Passat & MK3 GTI.  This means that if you get a donor car the engine loom will plug directly into the fusebox

[JMallows]

I did know that mine was CE1, but unsure how its actually different!! Is it just the fusebox?

How easy are these passat engines to get hold of? I've looked for a passat estate, but cant find any for sale!! I also never see any in scrappers?!

Oh, i forgot to say, putting a V8 in would be very nice indeed, but i dont think it would improve my MPG would it;)

[rubjonny]

All the plugs on the fusebox are different
But TBH as long as you get a complete engine loom its pretty much self contained so there isn't much wiring to the actual fusebox.  2.0 Passats I find are quite common, there are 2 in my scrappy atm

[JMallows]

So, i suppose changing to CE2 is as smiple as changing the plugs on existing loom, then plugging it into new fusebox?! How hard would it be to do the conversion myself, if i could get a complete passat? I know i know nothing now... but i would like to learn, so i could do it myself!

[rubjonny]

What you need ideally, is a CE2 MK2 Golf, then the engine and engine loom from a 90+ passat.

There are a LOT of wires to change over if you just wanted to swap the plugs over, more troble than its worth tbh!  If you're going to do it, do it properly
If you decided to not bother converting the passat engine loom to plug into the fusebox wouldn't be very hard really, only a few wires that actually run to it.