midnightoil
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2013
- Location
- Minnesota
- TDI
- researching for a TDI highway driver and occasional tow pig
Two strategies, similar outcome...
I'm thinking out loud again, a few years back I originally researched things and for some reason got fixated on the idea that a Jetta might be better than a Passat for me, I think because TDI versions just came already with a stick and TDI and just being ready to drive without messing about seemed best.
A few years later now i'm back to considering things like minitruck swaps and i'm wondering why I haven't given more attention to the Passat since it might be a better interim vehicle than the Jetta for me.
Does it make more sense to try and convert an automatic, TDI, Passat to have a stick shift?
Or does it make more sense to take a stick shifted Passat with a gas engine, and swap a TDI in there?
One thing I notice is that i'm a little confused by all the engine variations seemingly in the Passat (AFN/AVB/AWX/AVF/AJM/ATJ), but no listing of the ALH which is my preferred version. That alone makes me wonder if an ALH swap into it might be better. Since I see the BHW is also available in later models of the B5.5 that would also seem to be a direct bolt in if I went for some kind of ALH/BHW hybrid engine using the block too instead of just the internals, with the ALH head. (yes i'm aware 90% of people will say the BHW is a better engine, it probably is, I have specific reasons for wanting to experiment with ALH instead including lower replacement cost of those experiments screw up)
There's even the option to swap both engine and trans obviously. Is the standard 5 speed in the Passat with a 4 cyl different for the diesel vs the gas? If not that might be a reason.
I'm thinking out loud again, a few years back I originally researched things and for some reason got fixated on the idea that a Jetta might be better than a Passat for me, I think because TDI versions just came already with a stick and TDI and just being ready to drive without messing about seemed best.
A few years later now i'm back to considering things like minitruck swaps and i'm wondering why I haven't given more attention to the Passat since it might be a better interim vehicle than the Jetta for me.
Does it make more sense to try and convert an automatic, TDI, Passat to have a stick shift?
Or does it make more sense to take a stick shifted Passat with a gas engine, and swap a TDI in there?
One thing I notice is that i'm a little confused by all the engine variations seemingly in the Passat (AFN/AVB/AWX/AVF/AJM/ATJ), but no listing of the ALH which is my preferred version. That alone makes me wonder if an ALH swap into it might be better. Since I see the BHW is also available in later models of the B5.5 that would also seem to be a direct bolt in if I went for some kind of ALH/BHW hybrid engine using the block too instead of just the internals, with the ALH head. (yes i'm aware 90% of people will say the BHW is a better engine, it probably is, I have specific reasons for wanting to experiment with ALH instead including lower replacement cost of those experiments screw up)
There's even the option to swap both engine and trans obviously. Is the standard 5 speed in the Passat with a 4 cyl different for the diesel vs the gas? If not that might be a reason.