I installed a DIY ALH mTDI swap into my '89 Vanagon for right around $3k. I did a lot of fabrication and work trades for the parts, as well as selling off all the donor and original WBX drivetrain parts. I didn't use any of the Vanagon diesel install pieces. You might be interested in a VW van get together taking place on Wed. Feb 27th at Triceratops brewing in Tumwater, around 5:00 pm. I'm sure the group would love to check out your van in person.
Interesting. So you fabbed your own carrier bars/mounts and such? Wish youd put up a video of that. Just put it up on a lift and get some detail shots and talk about how you did it. Also, going into a gasser, what else did you have to do? Fuel tank/filler changes? Just added a glow plug relay and the diesel electrical necessities, id imagine. My buddy has a Carat that he wants to convert to MTDI, so im wondering whats involved with the gassers. I might show up at your meetup.
I installed the engine at 15 degrees and modified the stock WBX crossbar to accept Passat 1.8t engine mounts. I used a 1.8t mount arm on the driver side and a mount arm fabricated from a Jaguar lower control arm on the passenger side. I did work trades for the Kennedy adapter kit and aircooled DK transaxle. The van isn't running yet, as we bought a Eurovan Weekender during the project, so it got put on the back burner. It's about 95% complete, but I'm still chipping away at the last bits as time allows. I'm currently welding up the intake manifold. Our van group is new and this next gathering will only be our second. Nice folks.
Amazing work! I have a few questions for you. - Does the 1.9 tdi fit straight on to your gearbox? And do all vanagon gearbox have the same pattern? This is my main concern and I can´t seem to find much information about the fitment. - Do you experience any excessive vibration from this in-line 4 compared to a boxer motor? - Would it complicate things to go with a newer motor 1.9 tdi with electrical fuel control? - MPG? Thank you!
What's that blue wall behind the engine (separating the engine bay and the cabin)? Is this something for noise insulation? If so what material is it and how did you build it so it can come down when you need to camp? I am thinking of doing something like this from plexiglass foldable wall to have less engine noise in the cabin
Is there some reason to prefer the AHU to the ALH TDI motor ?I have owned my ALH for over 15 years.. so naturally I prefer it.I admit to knowing nothing about the AHU.
What about engine noise? I 've tested my ahu engine near rear bumper with properly sealed exhaust, it reads 82dB which is really loud. Tail gate closed, motor lid also, but no rubber mat on top. Wondering if.it is normal loudness.
I have no clue about decibels. I just know my van sounds BITCHEN. With the open K&N filter and the stainless exhaust with resonator it sounds like a race motor, heads turn everywhere you go, and the noise level is fine inside going down the road. Just build it and drive it and don’t worry about it.
@@jtlachappelle oh, so sport filter might increase loundness? Forgot about influence of that. It is still long way before being able to drive ours, trying to figure out why starter keeps spining with the motor, even though solenoid works fine. And same kind of alternator (140amp br-14h) not charging the battery. Btw really appreciate your videos man!
Sport filter definitely increases loudness, but in a good way, sounds killer. And you have to have a high flow filter on these, makes a monumental difference. If you dont like the noise K&N makes enclosed high flow filters. Just dont choke it off with shitty small diameter plumbing
When VW was still remanufacturing the 1.6L engine in Canada..that was the best deal in the world. Today, a new long block takes the spot as the really smart money. Anybody who pays a small shop to completely overhaul a VW diesel ( top and lower end true overhaul) is just insane..and being led down the road to ruin.
Which gearbox can be used, I think it's okay if someone knows maybe from another car?? say maybe Passat B5 or Audi A4 B5??? Please if anyone knows??? Thank you!
I dont know anything about which of those passenger car transaxles work. I do know that i crunched the ratios one time a long time ago and i believe i found that their ratios weren’t tall enough to be worth the hassle of hacking them in. Better to spend the money on a Vanagon tranny and build it right. But you go do your research first.
My ALH has 190K miles on it.. and it doesn't yet burn any oil. I believe it is perhaps at the halfway point in it's life. However.. I know what the hell I am doing ! It has always had DIESEL RATED synthetic oil.. Get a used engine where they thought they could run Castrol or some crap like that.. and it would be road kill. That is the gamble with an old diesel.. Who had it ..and what did they do ? If you can find out with certainty.. the 20 year old motor can be fine.. otherwise.. ? What you can see, hear, and smell.. is what you get !
WTF....the whole point of my vids is to give detailed information. If you dont care about information and want less “blah blah”, go look at every other guy’s videos on here, plenty of useless 30 second “start the engine” and “test drives” out there for you. Mine starts and drives perfectly 100% of the time...when you want to know WHY it does, HOW i did it, and HOW MUCH it cost, come back, dont be lazy, and watch my vids
@@jtlachappelle hey maybe in the new year you could do Redmond wa car show as I think your VW would be a hit in the redmond set -> www.exoticsat.com/criteria
