vw diesel into a mazda rx7

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
First time poster long time diesel lover. I am in the planning stages of trying to install a vw diesel into my 88 Mazda rx7 convertible. The rotary which I love is not known for it's fuel economy (18-19mpg). I love the car and commute with it 55 miles one way to work. Thought I would give the vw diesel a look after hearing stories of 40-50 mpg in the jetta.

A few questions would be:

what year would be best/easiest for the swap ( I've read 97-99?)
weight, height, length of the vw diesel
wiring needed for the 97-99 motors if those will work

Additionaly, does anyone know of a company that makes an adaptor to fit the vw to the mazda bell housing

Know of anyone doing or having done this swap?


thank you in advance


lewis

I have a bare chassis to the mock up should be easy. I'm looking for as little pain as possible.
 

Lefty

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2005
Location
Lazear,Colorado Population 60
TDI
Jetta, 2000,Green GLS
lews930 said:
First time poster long time diesel lover. I am in the planning stages of trying to install a vw diesel into my 88 Mazda rx7 convertible. The rotary which I love is not known for it's fuel economy (18-19mpg). I love the car and commute with it 55 miles one way to work. Thought I would give the vw diesel a look after hearing stories of 40-50 mpg in the jetta.

A few questions would be:

what year would be best/easiest for the swap ( I've read 97-99?)
weight, height, length of the vw diesel
wiring needed for the 97-99 motors if those will work

Additionaly, does anyone know of a company that makes an adaptor to fit the vw to the mazda bell housing

Know of anyone doing or having done this swap?


thank you in advance


lewis

I have a bare chassis to the mock up should be easy. I'm looking for as little pain as possible.
I would think it cheaper to just buy and use an older Jetta. Drive your favorite car in the summer on vactions and use the Jetta for work. Lot less pain this way.
 

NRU73

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Joined
Mar 8, 2004
Location
N.E.
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02 GOLF TDI Silver, 5 Speed
But just buying a Jetta would be way to easy.;)

Where would the challenge and the fun be?

This would probably get more views if it was posted here.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/forumdisplay.php?f=63

I'm sure a Moderator will move it when they get the chance.

Welcome to TDICLUB and enjoy your stay.



Nate
 

jasonTDI

TDI GURU Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Location
Oregon, WI
TDI
20' RAM 3500 CCLB dually HO/Aisan. 2019 Cherokee 2.0T
Interesting project. I love the silky smooth purr of the rotary. I used to have a 1980 GLS with a twin Mikuni side draft carbed racing beat motor. +/- 230hp. 9500 rpms! That was a FUN car. WAY underbraked!
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
No thanks. anybody and everybody has swapped a 350 chevy into the rx7. And yes it will be fun to try the swap. If my guesstimate is correct I should be able to get 40-45mpg easily based on the weight and somewhat smooth lines of the car. I've thought about buying a jetta but I dont need another car to insure,tag, maintain. I have enough already

thanks for the help

lewis
 

alphaseinor

TDI Innovator, Gone but Not Forgotten
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Location
Denton, TX
TDI
'03 Jetta TDI 780,000 miles (totaled out), 01 Audi TT 225 Quattro 230,000 Miles (runs great!), 00 Cabreetle Beetle dash, ALH & MK4 harness Swap
You should look at an ALH engine (1998-2003 beetle, 1999.5-2003 Jetta, 1999-2003 Golf) specifically with a computer/wiring harness from a 1998,1999 Beetle, 1999.5 Jetta, or 1999 Golf. This will avoid any immobilizer issues... it will also alow more modification options if the need arises...

I'm sure you could also figure out a 2.0 passat engine from 2004-2005, but they are hard to find...

check www.car-part.com for local junkyards...

get a bentley manual as well... and a vag-com cable from www.ross-tech.com
 

alphaseinor

TDI Innovator, Gone but Not Forgotten
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Location
Denton, TX
TDI
'03 Jetta TDI 780,000 miles (totaled out), 01 Audi TT 225 Quattro 230,000 Miles (runs great!), 00 Cabreetle Beetle dash, ALH & MK4 harness Swap
... to add... yes you can get a pre-ALH engine from a 1996-1997 passat, 1997-1999 jetta... I don't have a problem with this either... they don't have a 100k timing belt... but that shouldn't be a problem since if you can swap an engine, I'm sure you can figure out the timing belt...
 

je

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2000
Location
Chesterton Shores, Ontario
TDI
-
The turbo transmission was the same as used in some Ford and Mazda pickups of the same vintage. I don't think yours will have that transmission (the N/A one I had was pretty sweet, for the torque it held).

If you look at this thread
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=183868
you might contact the person to find out how they make an adaptor.

This company seems to do the opposite of what you want, maybe their product works in reverse too. :confused:
http://www.kennedyeng.com/vw_por.htm
 
Last edited:

alphaseinor

TDI Innovator, Gone but Not Forgotten
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Location
Denton, TX
TDI
'03 Jetta TDI 780,000 miles (totaled out), 01 Audi TT 225 Quattro 230,000 Miles (runs great!), 00 Cabreetle Beetle dash, ALH & MK4 harness Swap
IIRC there was a T5 bell housing that was designed to mount a 4cyl audi/vw engine to the T5/T56... maybe this will help?
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
Too round, I'm just north of Tampa. I have family in Hilliard off 121 just south of Rowe cutoff.

Yes the ranger used the turbo tranny, very stout unit too.

thanks for the info

lewis
 

veggieman

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Location
Sweet Home Alabama!
TDI
04 Golf
The best way to go is 33mpg on highway...

and 520hp on tap for when you're tired of the great MPG!!:D




Quick walk around:


Built it, drove it, sold it. Life has more value than an insanely fast Rx-7!!

Sorry for being so far off topic. ;)
 

Pat Dolan

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2002
Location
Martensville, SK
TDI
2003 A4 Variant, 2015 Q7
alphaseinor said:
thanks for the link. Have wanted to know that for some time.

BTW: that is VERY reasonable price. Get a quote for an adapter plate from Kennedy...especially a one-off, and that is all of a sudden quite a deal (especially considering how much better a product this seems to be).
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
very nice swap but you dont get the picture. I have a 76 930 turbo that is insanely fast. If I were so inclined I would build my cummins diesel powered truck to 500 hp with 1500 lbs of torque. I simply want better fuel economy. $3.45 sound familiar. Besides, nobody else has done the swap so that is motivation enough

thank you

lewis
 

turboimpala

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Location
SC
TDI
TBD
There are quite a few guys who have swapped Turbo Buick V6 engines in to RX-7's and you might be able to get some useful information from them as far as mounts, etc are concerned.

Check out the "Hybrid" sections of the following forums:

www.turbobuick.com
www.turbobuicks.com

I installed a Turbo Buick V6 into my 96 Impala SS and I run 11.9 in the quarter mile.
But now I'm also thinking about doing a VW TDI swap.
 

Pat Dolan

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Location
Martensville, SK
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2003 A4 Variant, 2015 Q7
lew:

I was thinking about your swap while I drove down the road working out details for an electric FB we are doing now, and the more I thought about it, the more I think you (or someone who is not spending my money) really need to this one. I think a 2.0 litre, 16v PD engine (134 HP in stock US trim) from a Passat TDI is exactly what is needed, stuck on the end of a T5 and laid over 22.5 degrees. 180+ HP should be just a few simple mods away.

Pat
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
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Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
now that's what I'm talking about.

How much electronics on this 2.0 Passat motor and what years for that motor?

thanks


lewis
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
Correct. I have been looking for the 2.0 Mazda diesel on Ebay and other Japanese engine web sites but no luck so far. the 323 and the 626 both share the 2.0 diesel but they both are front wheel drive.

A down side is I havent heard anything about the Mazda diesels.

If anyone has link or idea please let me know


thanks

lewis
 

DPM

Top Post Dawg
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Location
Newtownards, N. Ireland
TDI
2019 Rav4 AWD Hybrid, Citroen C4 BlueHDI
If you're talking about the old RF diesel, look no farther than a pre-2001 Suzuki Vitara or Grand Vitara; they had'em in manual and auto, all were turbo'd. A fair number being dismantled at this stage in the UK...
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
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Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
I'm not sure because i've never seen one much less in a suzuki. Do you have any "leeds", get it, for a salvage yard in the UK that might have such an item?


thank you

lewis
 

DPM

Top Post Dawg
Joined
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Location
Newtownards, N. Ireland
TDI
2019 Rav4 AWD Hybrid, Citroen C4 BlueHDI
Not off the top of my head. There are a number of search engines for parts in the UK as well as a couple of specialist Suzuki breakers.

The RF isn't a bad engine. It's quite a refined unit, IDI, and the Suzuki application differs from those you'd see in the US in that it has an electronic pump and is turbo'd.

Only problem with it, or a TDI, or any other engine of that class, is the overall height. Might have to incline it a fair bit to fit under the RX's hood, no?
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
yes, I found that out while searching for hours with no luck. I think I'll just stay VW. I'll have to measure the Mazda tranny tomorrow and compare it against the Toyota tranny to see if t could be used. that way I wouldnt have to get a adapter plate made.

lewis
 

Pat Dolan

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Location
Martensville, SK
TDI
2003 A4 Variant, 2015 Q7
Lewis:

The 134 HP PD engine is VERY electronic, but the usual method of dealing with it is to get a donor car and take the instrument cluster, wiring harness, ECU and pedal potentiometer accross to the new vehicle. This is a last generation engine (i.e., not common rail) but still very high tech stuff (unit injectors, feedback loop from the injectors themselves) and very easy to pump up to a lot more power. The earlier 8 valve 1.9 TDIs can be set up as purely mechanical control (M-TDI) and make the whole thing a lot simpler, but no where near the potential of the 16V 2.0.

In any case, you probably need to go with a T5 or T56 due to the torque of even a slightly warmed over TDI. Rear end is also an issue (don't think an FC has the torque capacity - but I could be wrong. The Miata V8 crowd has the easy answer there with a Ford 7.5" or 8.8")

Pat
 

lews930

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Location
tampa,florida
TDI
96 passat
Which of these early 1.9 motors have the least amount of wiring? While I could transfer all the stuff mentioned toget more zoom, that will lead to more work and time down for my commuter car. If I could get close to 100 hp with minimal wiring that is my goal along with better fuel economy.

Did I hear 97-99 tdi was the weapon of choice or earlier?


thanks

lewis
 

Pat Dolan

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2002
Location
Martensville, SK
TDI
2003 A4 Variant, 2015 Q7
lews930 said:
Which of these early 1.9 motors have the least amount of wiring? While I could transfer all the stuff mentioned toget more zoom, that will lead to more work and time down for my commuter car. If I could get close to 100 hp with minimal wiring that is my goal along with better fuel economy.

Did I hear 97-99 tdi was the weapon of choice or earlier?


thanks

lewis
Dude, yor are a perfect candidate for M-TDI. You can use ANY VE inline pump engine (which means the 8V 1.9 from '96 - '03) for this, just send the pump to one of the three or so businesses that do this conversion, and all you have left is one on/off wire. Giles Gallie is one I use, and his work gives you back a pump with more power AND economy than the original electronic version - but without any wiring hassle. ( http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=8618 ) All of the information to DIY the mod is widely available, but if you want minimal downtime, this is the way to go.

100HP wouldn't even be the starting point. Stockers rated at 90HP will usually deliver all 90 to the drive wheels. But, the stock VNT15 turbo runs out of air not much over 120HP. You can easily get there with M-TDI pump, injector nozzles (from the 110 horse version - or larger: http://www.kermatdi.com/servlet/StoreFront ). You can change out the VNT 15 for a larger (VNT 17 is next step) and go higher, or go even larger turbo and really crank it up (but starts to get costly after 150HP or so - when you should really just start with a PD150 engine).

If you were in my back yard, I would do the M-TDI (pump), PP520(nozzles), DGRP(eliminates EGR), VNT 17 (turbo), a bigger FMIC intercooler (there is room in FB or FC for something 10x larger!) and a custom turbo-back 2.5" exhaust. I would also hook the whole thing to a T-5 with the Euro bellhousing @ 22.5 deg. and install a 7.5" Ford diff (RX7 ratio WAY too short, but a turbo RX7 diff might do for now and be a quick bolt-in). You would be well over 250 lb/ft @ 3,000 RPM, which will scatter a Miata diff, but I am not so sure about the RX7.
 
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