TDI Conversions: Build Threads and Links to Swap Discussions

justinoconnor

New member
Joined
Apr 3, 2011
Location
Vernon, CT
TDI
1996 VW Passat
Hmm...

I know I'm not gonna be able to afford it right now, but do you know of any companies that sell entire TDI conversion packages?

New or quality used parts - with the engine, turbo, transmission, etc.. essentially everything needed to convert a 2.0L gas mk3 to a 1.9L TDI.

I live in Connecticut, but I have no problem hopping in the car, and driving a couple thousand miles for a good deal.

From the looks of it - if I want an mk3 specific build, I'm gonna need to save up - cuz even totaled TDI Jetta's are selling for at least 2 grand, and new TDI engines are unjustifiably expensive.

If you know of, or come across any really inexpensive kits/packages - please share!

Realistically, I can't drop much more than $500 at the min. - might be able to up that to a few grand over the next year, and in 2 or 3 yrs - I'll be an Engineer, and buy whatever I want - but, what will VW churn out by then?!...maybe a new R32, with a Touareg TDI, matched to a 6 speed manual...mmm, Lol
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
Nobody offers a crate turn key swap in the watercooled world with the exception of www.eurospecsport.com for vanagons. The easiest and best solution would be for you to buy a mk3 Jetta TDi and call it a day. Then swap the drivetrain to the car you want or swap your interior, suspension and wheels to the tdi jetta.

As you said when you graduate you will probably just want something else because lets face it the mk3 jetta is not getting any younger or cooler looking.
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
post your links and I'll add them as time permits. I want this thread to remain current but I need your help. Please make certain your swap has details and some progression from the concept stage before posting.

Please don't hesitate to let me know if something needs to be edited. :)
 

Vinyl_Addict

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2005
Location
Allentown PA
TDI
00 Jetta
curious if a ahu a3 tdi and trans can be swapped into a 90 fox wagon? i have a full 98 donor car but realize the fox is a longitudinal setup and the jetta is transverse. I saw a few threads but people seem to be trying it with diesels that are already longitudinal.
 

cumminsfromthecold

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2006
Location
HumCo
TDI
'84 Toyota 1Z 4WD x-cab
TDI into a Fox

Vinyl_Addict, you look like Powdered Toast Man.

I'm also curious about the Fox TDI conversion potential...
 

GTiTDi

TDIClub Enthusiast, Macht Schnell! Vendor , w/Busi
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Location
3 Spruce st Wareham, gateway to Cape Cod Massachus
TDI
'91 GTI CJAA swap,'02 Jetta wagon ALH swap, '03 GTI 1.8T rally car, '03 Sprinter 3500
Fox TDI hurdles

curious if a ahu a3 tdi and trans can be swapped into a 90 fox wagon? i have a full 98 donor car but realize the fox is a longitudinal setup and the jetta is transverse. I saw a few threads but people seem to be trying it with diesels that are already longitudinal.
I helped a coworker of mine do an A3 ABA swap into a Fox, and there are definitely some hurdles but as it has a counterflow head at least you won't have to modify the hood. One thing you will definitely need to do is figure out if the accessory drive would clear the radiator, IIRC the stock set up does not fit. IIRC I don't think there is clearance for the serpentine drive. Also the stock oil filter stand will not clear the Fox clutch cable bracket, We used one from a B5 1.8T (AEB engine).

All in all anything can be done, just depends on how much work you want to do and how much money you have to play with!
 

GTiTDi

TDIClub Enthusiast, Macht Schnell! Vendor , w/Busi
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Location
3 Spruce st Wareham, gateway to Cape Cod Massachus
TDI
'91 GTI CJAA swap,'02 Jetta wagon ALH swap, '03 GTI 1.8T rally car, '03 Sprinter 3500
Hmm...

I know I'm not gonna be able to afford it right now, but do you know of any companies that sell entire TDI conversion packages?

New or quality used parts - with the engine, turbo, transmission, etc.. essentially everything needed to convert a 2.0L gas mk3 to a 1.9L TDI.

I live in Connecticut, but I have no problem hopping in the car, and driving a couple thousand miles for a good deal.

From the looks of it - if I want an mk3 specific build, I'm gonna need to save up - cuz even totaled TDI Jetta's are selling for at least 2 grand, and new TDI engines are unjustifiably expensive.

If you know of, or come across any really inexpensive kits/packages - please share!

Realistically, I can't drop much more than $500 at the min. - might be able to up that to a few grand over the next year, and in 2 or 3 yrs - I'll be an Engineer, and buy whatever I want - but, what will VW churn out by then?!...maybe a new R32, with a Touareg TDI, matched to a 6 speed manual...mmm, Lol
you should PM my buddy Burpod about his 98 Jetta TDI, he wants to do an A2 tdi swap with an 88 GLI and knows he needs a B4 donor to have an easy time...maybe you guys could figure something out...only kicker is the Jetta is actually in decent shape considering most are rotted to oblivion
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
Added more swaps, if you don't see your build please PM me and I'll be happy to add it :)
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
Updated with a new section for Jeeps
 
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Location
California
TDI
1, but without the I
Cool thread- just found out about this. I did an early TD AAZ swap about 2.5 years ago. Was easy cake- hardest part was to source a MKII TD fuel pickup for the tank- I didn't want to spend $200 on a new one :)
Use an inline rotary fuel pump from EMPI ($70 or so) and call it a day. The exhaust bolts right up. Started on friday morning, fired up by 5pm the same day, drove the car home on saturday- replaced the power steering rack while I was in there too... hence the additional day :laugh:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthre...ad-trip-3-locations-one-goal-get-my-new-motor.

-AJ
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
I've already got you covered ;):)

People are always asking for info on swapping TDI motors..................
Corrado Swaps:
DieselGeek's Corrado TDI FS thread: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?p=589058 pictures of Dieselgeek's Swap can be seen on ????
Purple Tom's UK Corrado 1Z Swap: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=287475
n0ftInc's 1Z GT1749VA VNT Build: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=303523
My mk4 ALH corrado swap: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2303271
My Mk3 AHU Corrado TDI Swap: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3280013
AFN Corrado TDI: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1105053
Corrado with a PD swap: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=255563
Corrado Diesel: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4301790
Corrado TD: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4462532
Mikkijane's TDI Corrado Build: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3539286
Canadian VR6 Corrado to Mk3 AHU: http://www.customobsessions.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=17946&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=210
13mmwrench's mid engine Corrado longitudinal with an ALH run on an AHU wiring and ECU: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=280711
Cool thread- just found out about this. I did an early TD AAZ swap about 2.5 years ago. Was easy cake- hardest part was to source a MKII TD fuel pickup for the tank- I didn't want to spend $200 on a new one :)
Use an inline rotary fuel pump from EMPI ($70 or so) and call it a day. The exhaust bolts right up. Started on friday morning, fired up by 5pm the same day, drove the car home on saturday- replaced the power steering rack while I was in there too... hence the additional day :laugh:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthre...ad-trip-3-locations-one-goal-get-my-new-motor.

-AJ
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
I'm working on adding to the list a very critical lesson for all TDI swappers:


I just need to find a place where I can scan it.
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
Its been a back burner project for me and I no longer have access to a scanner that makes doing this easy.
 

GTiTDi

TDIClub Enthusiast, Macht Schnell! Vendor , w/Busi
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Location
3 Spruce st Wareham, gateway to Cape Cod Massachus
TDI
'91 GTI CJAA swap,'02 Jetta wagon ALH swap, '03 GTI 1.8T rally car, '03 Sprinter 3500

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
I would talk to other people that have spent a lot of money with them before considering dropping the coin. Mk5 r32 turbo peeps...
 

jrdnlc

Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Location
SoCal
TDI
04' GTI 1.8T
Thanks so much for this OP. Hopefully one day i'll be swapping a TDI engine when my current one gives up on me.
 

jimbote

Certified Volkswagen Nut
Joined
Jul 10, 2006
Location
spiral arm, milky way (aka central NC)
TDI
Tacoma 4x4 converted to TDI
I would talk to other people that have spent a lot of money with them before considering dropping the coin. Mk5 r32 turbo peeps...
I second that....there's a semi local guy (charlotte) that did the HPA jeep kit and apparently they used him as a beta tester, long list of problems with his swap ....after he shared some pictures of their truss setup I'm none too impressed with the engineering :rolleyes:
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
Is that the one that is on Craigslist with a bad engine for roughly $14k
 

G60ING

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Location
MD
TDI
No TDIs Currently, I have an R36 Corrado. I've had an ALH Corrado swap, AHU Corrado swap and 2003 TDI Jetta
Thank you sir
 
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