1.9 or 2.0?

planeflyer21

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Location
Arizona
TDI
Pending
Howdy everyone! Glad I was directed here!

I joined after learning about being able to do a TDI conversion on my 1999 Ford Ranger 4x4.

Was directed to the TDI conversion kits out of Canada for the Ranger, and they have a page for optional Malone Tuning packages.

Wanting to keep things as close to "original" as possible, the numbers for a stock or Stage 1 package for the 2.0L TDI look to be very close to what I would like in torque. The Stage 1 package on the 1.9L is still quite a bit lower than stock on the 2.0L.

The few people I've spoken with about doing a TDI conversion on my Ranger say "Go with a 1.9L, they are bullet proof and easy. The 2.0s are a nightmare/complicated/too electric and such."

My question is this: are the 2.0 TDI engines really a big box of voodoo like some are saying? Inversely, are the 1.9 TDIs really that much easier to use for a conversion?

Thanks for any input you have!
 

Hasenwerk

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Location
Quesnel, BC
TDI
1982 Cabriolet (BEW|VNT17|Stage4), 1989 VW TriStar Syncro soon-to-be CR TDI (CBEA), 2001 Ford Ranger Edge 4x4 (ALH|VNT17|R520|Stage4)
2.0L covers a lot of engines.

There is the 04/05 Passat and the 09-15 Common Rail. The common rail has far to many requirements to make it a simple install. The 04/05 are a breeze to get running as are any 1996 to 2005 engines.

My daily driver is a 2001 Ranger with a 1.9L ALH with larger turbo and nozzles and I make a respectable 160hp / 270ft.lb torque - this is a total blast to drive over the original 3 or 4L V6
 

planeflyer21

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Location
Arizona
TDI
Pending
Thanks, Hasenwerk.

270ft.lb is a respectable number. My '69 F100 with a 302 produced the same amount of torque. That must be quite zippy in a Ranger.

I spoke with a guy in state that has both ALH and BEW engines in stock, I'll have to talk to him some more.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
I think more and more about putting the BHW I have into my F150. I'd be likely to actually drive it more then, too.
 

sardo_67

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Location
CT
TDI
2015 Golf SEL 6spd
how much of a pain in the ass are the CJAA motors to do a stand alone?
 

planeflyer21

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Location
Arizona
TDI
Pending
From what experienced people tell me, a significant PITA. Like many times more electronics than the 2006 and earlier engines.
 

TDIMeister

Phd of TDIClub Enthusiast, Moderator at Large
Joined
May 1, 1999
Location
Canada
TDI
TDI
BHW is already in an automatic longitudinal layout, so make the connection... :)

Though a manual tranny behind it is still almost certainly preferred if not required because of how the BHW ECU expects to "see" an automatic unless programmed out for a manual.
 

sardo_67

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Location
CT
TDI
2015 Golf SEL 6spd
I talked with Evguy1 about a harness and ECU on a CJAA motor and he said it's already in the works.

My question now is, is it worth it?
BEW can make 170hp pretty easy with about $2,000 of addons no?

While the CJAA with a simple tune and 3" exhaust can make about 170.
Add a larger turbo and better IC system and 200 would be great for an XJ on 33s.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
The BHW is almost neck and neck with the CBEA/CJAA engines.

136hp vs. 140hp

247tq vs. 236tq

Both with simple software changes can get into the 180hp territory, and despite what the PD haters say, I'd wager the BHW will be mechanically more sound for longer with less fuss than the CR engines will, even if you had done away with the CR's DPF.

However, there would almost certainly be a higher maximum power increase available on the newer engines if nothing else because a commonrail EDC system affords some better tuning capabilities, and you'd sure think the 16v head could potentially move more air through the engine. But then again, maybe not. The Cummins guys sure love the old pump injected 12v engines more than the 24v CR versions, and I guess it is a similar comparison. :confused:

I for one would love to see a standalone commonrail conversion for the VE TDI engines. Something that used the existing pump mounting for a HPFP, the existing injector mounts for some form of fuel rail and injector mounting, and a nice simple easily adaptable and tuneable engine management software. Only issue is if you could get by without cylinder pressure sensing (not sure how critical that input is for the EDC17 engines), as it would be difficult to adapt those plugs.
 
Last edited:

vtpsd

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2013
Location
Vermont
TDI
03 jsw TDI, audi 90 AHU swap
I choose the ALH because of its availabilty and price. Around here I can buy a good running ALH car for $500. There are so many engines out there, and have been proven to be extremely reliable.

I also find it easy and cheap to get used parts for the ALH.

The BHW sounds like a really nice candidate because of its newer technology and the fact that the electronics are still pretty adaptable. Only problem I see is that there isn't all that many of them out there.

If the BHW was as common as the ALH, I would probably choose it.
 
Last edited:

sardo_67

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Location
CT
TDI
2015 Golf SEL 6spd
The BHW is almost neck and neck with the CBEA/CJAA engines.

136hp vs. 140hp

247tq vs. 236tq

Both with simple software changes can get into the 180hp territory, and despite what the PD haters say, I'd wager the BHW will be mechanically more sound for longer with less fuss than the CR engines will, even if you had done away with the CR's DPF.

However, there would almost certainly be a higher maximum power increase available on the newer engines if nothing else because a commonrail EDC system affords some better tuning capabilities, and you'd sure think the 16v head could potentially move more air through the engine. But then again, maybe not. The Cummins guys sure love the old pump injected 12v engines more than the 24v CR versions, and I guess it is a similar comparison. :confused:

I for one would love to see a standalone commonrail conversion for the VE TDI engines. Something that used the existing pump mounting for a HPFP, the existing injector mounts for some form of fuel rail and injector mounting, and a nice simple easily adaptable and tuneable engine management software. Only issue is if you could get by without cylinder pressure sensing (not sure how critical that input is for the EDC17 engines), as it would be difficult to adapt those plugs.


ya that's where i'm at right now, do i want to spend the extra $$$$ just to get the new motor or spend that money on the BEW i have in my garage now on power mods.
i had a 2014 but after the emissions crap happened i stopped looking into mods for that motor as i was going to sell it back anyway.
now that more cars are being totaled/parted out it seems i can get a motor for $700 off ebay but i would need a turbo, harness and ECU to send off to get made into a stand alone.

guess there's more reading i need to do before making my decision
 

PickleRick

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Location
Greenville sc
TDI
05 GLS BHW sedan 5 speed conversion. BHW Carver SantaCruz in progress
Who wouldn't love the old 6bt over the 24v cummins? Better mpg, requires only 2 wires to install (1 to alternator and 1 to power injection pump) not to mention easier to find a late 80s/early 90s donor rust bucket than a 2000 plus model.

In my opinion if you want to do a swap buy the whole car or buy the swap from a specialist/enthusiast who knows the car and will get you every last item you need.

Swaps will nickle and dime you even without having to hunt down electrical connectors a salvage yard cut or a part that was sold off the motor before it was sold to you or something broke in an accident/up on removal.

If you have the whole car you have everything. Then scrap/part out to recoup some cash.

You may need to travel for a couple hours but there are plenty of bad transmisson 04/05 passat diesels out there. Also a few with bad turbo, noisy balance shafts or run like crap from bad cam lobes to be had. It's their down falls that make them 500 dollar cars.

I wouldn't spend 700 plus on just a motor. Youll spend several hundred more on everything else.

If you have a truck or suv, rent a uhaul tow dolly and get the vehicle yourself.
 

PickleRick

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2017
Location
Greenville sc
TDI
05 GLS BHW sedan 5 speed conversion. BHW Carver SantaCruz in progress
No problem. The only swaps ive done that i didn't not prefer the entire car were all older motors. Old small block v8 swaps, old mechanical injection diesels, etc. On Hondas i even found the sohc D series engine harness fit on the dohc B series engine minus extending a plug on the transmisson. For this swap your need for throttle by wire, relays, engine harness just doesn't make sense to trust bubba at the junk yard to pull everything you need.

Was a guy here on the east coast selling some bettle diesel swaps for about 1k in the classifieds section. Will run you 500-800 or so to ship freight plus he knew exactly what parts youd need, unlike bubbas auto salvage. Something to keep in mind if your local is dry of vw diesels. Some guys have an hoa that wont allow a car to be scrapped in the yard. Thankfully i don't live in one of those. Check u ship for quotes as RLC is a local carrier we use and they give me better quotes on u ship than they do over the phone.
 

planeflyer21

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Location
Arizona
TDI
Pending
Yes, this is a TDI desert in this area, both wrecked vehicles and engines. There are a few whole, running cars but they want $5k-6k it seems.
 

Cb8k

New member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Location
Newport, WA
TDI
Gray 2005 Passat TDI 127k mi, dark gray 2005 Passat 270k mi, use to have 2000 Golf ALH, 2001 Jetta ALH
Hello all. I'm new to the site. I have a 2005 Passat TDI that is paid off (free motor for my conversion). It has 270k miles and I am going to put it in my 1994 Toyota excab 4x4. I'm wondering what things I should do / rebuild with the amount of miles it has on it to make it reliable with a stage 2+ tune. It has the ALH balance shaft delete and I plan to put a Colt stage 2 cam in it.

Thanks for any help.
 

Cb8k

New member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Location
Newport, WA
TDI
Gray 2005 Passat TDI 127k mi, dark gray 2005 Passat 270k mi, use to have 2000 Golf ALH, 2001 Jetta ALH
I think more and more about putting the BHW I have into my F150. I'd be likely to actually drive it more then, too.
I'm new to the site also and am trying to learn how and where to post things. I have a 1994 Toyota excab 4x4 that I am going to put the BHW motor out of my 270k mi Passat. I'm trying to figure out what level of rebuild I should do to make the motor reliable with a stage 2 (potentially more) tune. I am planning on putting a stage 2 Colt cam in and it already is current on timing belt, water pump and has the ALH balance shaft delete. Any help on best place to get parts for rebuild would be appreciated also as I'm having trouble finding reliable parts for the BHW. Thanks for any help.
 
Top