Eurovan TDI conversion, please help!

[dieselsRus]

I always wanted to swap a tdi into a eurovan or a weekender 1993 or up. I didn't buy the van yet so if anyone can help me out I would appreciate it. Should I buy a VR6 van or the 2.5 5cyl.? and what year would work best? I want to do this swap and keep this van until I die. I have the money and a shop to get everything done. I just need to find a van and a doner car.

 

[karlaudi]

A quick check of my European spec ETKA parts list would indicate that a 2.5 liter would allow more parts to be reused. Like engine mount brackets, oil pan etc. Although a very detailed review of the parts list is require before proceeding to cover everything need for a conversion.

The VR6, I would think would require more modification and far less parts interchange.

The engine is a developement of the original Audi 5-cylinder and the diesel fitted to the european spec. Eurovan was a 2.4 TD, not a TDi. In europe a 1.9 TD four cylinder was fitted as well, at least for the 1993 model year.

 

[dieselsRus]

Thank you for the reply, is there any way I could get the parts lists off you to check them? and also if there is parts on the european spec list that I would need, are those parts found in the US? and to update, I might have found a '93 weekender with a pop-top with a bad engine, I'm going to call on it today and hopefully it's not sold.

 

[iggy_jet]

Take a look at this site...

http://www.haywood-sullivan.com/vanagon/TDI/

 

[karlaudi]

dieseRus

iggy_jet is right, the earlier Vanagon is easy to convert using OEM / genuine VW parts sold by various "grey market" importers.

This is especially true if they are use the rather rare 1.6 TD Vanagon sold in the US.

However, you want to use a T3 Transporter /Eurovan. So you have a bigger challenge. Being in PA you are closer to Europe. The quick and easy task would be to import any, as Volkswagen calls them in Europe, Transporter that is the same year as the one you wish to convert and strip it for the parts.

Otherwise, it is a process of finding all the new and / or used parts you need for a "clean" as "from the factory" conversion.

I got my European ETKA CD-ROM parts fiche off eBay Deutschland about 3 years ago. Check there. This would be true for a used Transporter. By the way it may be possible to import one and use a disable US-Spec model for the parts needed to make it US DOT compliant.

Keep in mind that these were sold as commercial vehicles in Germany and Europe too. So you could get a German TD four door, crew cab pick-up transporter and bring it in as a commercial vehicle, for example, or any other commercial variation. Just check with the DOT import list first.

 

[dieselsRus]

does anyone have a program to read what they are listing about the vehicle in German? I like what I see on ebay Deutschland but I can't read any of it. Thanks

 

[dingchowping]

Just keep in mind with either the 5 cylinder or VR6 you'll need to change out the transmission. I don't know about the VR6 but my shop parts hauler is a '93 Eurovan with the 5 cylinder and its geared VERY low. 1st is almost a granny gear. I'm sure the more powerful VR6 is geared differently, but its still too low for a diesel.

Keep my posted on your progress. Our van's engine is getting tired (230,000 miles...ON THE ORIGINAL TIMING BELT!!!) and I've been wanting to swap in a tdi.

TTFN,
Adam

Head Tech,
Achtuning
Redmond, WA.

 

[Slave2school]

In canada at least you could get the Eurovan with a 2.4L 5cyl N/A diesel with 90hp I believe. Why not see aobut finding one like that and worrying about a turbo manifold or something along that line than reinvent the whole wheel? I know not as fun but...

 

[karlaudi]

dieselsRus,

Send the listing to your self or save it to your "My eBay" account and then copy and paste the Text to Word and then use a translation service like "babelfish"

You can try to directly translate, but it may not be complete or work very well.

I don't speak German, but I understand many Automotive terms and make decent guesses. Remember pictures speak a thousand words.

It seems to me Slave2school's idea about a Canadian diesel Eurovan is a good sugestion.

Which one on eBay Deutschland did you have in mind?

 

[Slave2school]

I know this is on our side of the boarder, but maybe this could be a starting point for you. http://www.greasecar.com/clasi_view.cfm?adID=976

 

[dieselsRus]

I did see that van from Canada on Greasecar but for $8,800 I wouldn't want to tear it apart. I'm not really into the whole customs thing. I would rather buy a wrecked eurovan from germany or canada and buy a clean one in the US with a bad engine. I found a 93 weekender with pop-top. The guy says it used to run great, but it's been sitting for 3 years. It's nice and clean the interior is all taken apart but it looks like everything is there. 111k one owner he wants $3,000 I might buy it and sit it around until I find a nice doner van. Let me know if you guys stir anything else up.

 

[karlaudi]

If the Eurovan, stated above, is $8,000.00 Canadian, then it is a rather attractive option, in my view.

A US-spec conversion, using a wrecked TD is an option and this is were parts list research will be a definite plus in discovering any variations in terms of brakes, suspension, transaxle etc between various models and years.

Keep in mind that in 1993 through 2001. all versions were offered as Syncro's, as in four wheel drive, as far as Germany is concerned. No VR6 "Eurovan type" versions, as best I can tell, through these years was offered in Germany. Only 2.4/2.5 5-cylinder Diesels and a 2.5 5-cylinder gasoline engine were offered in all versions of Transporter Syncros.

Beginning in at least 03/98, a 2.5 liter 5-cylinder TDI was offered for both Syncro's and non-Syncros using engine code: ACV

 

[therabbittree]

buy a 2.5 L tdi from the "parts Place" in michigan and swap that in to a old 2.5L gasser eurovan thet trannys supposedly will bolt up. I have heard VR6 and 5cyl bolt patterns are the same?...
Thanks
Deo

 

[mogly]

Parts Place hasn't had any of those 2.5 TDIs for a while now.