[Vwdiesel] Re: 1.9 vs 1.6 T

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

> Hello to the list- I have a '91 ECO with about 200K it may need rings and
> valves soon. My question is: I could buy a rebuilt 1.6 turbo motor and drop
> it in with the current turbo set-up, or could buy one of the 1.9 NA and put
> that in in it's place. Anybody got any suggestions as to which would be
more
> economical or have more power? I lean toward simplicity (1.9 NA) but also
> like the turbo thingy as well, so....
>
  My first reservation is in buying a "rebuilt" engine.  The tolerances on
these
engines are so tight that most rebuilders are afraid to build them to factory
specs and use larger clearances.  This would shorten the longevity.  :(
  Usually they want to bore the cylinders to over half of the useable
clearance "life."  They may not replace the intermediate shaft bearings.
I'm picky I guess.  :)
  I was able to rebuild a 1.6 TD for about half or less of the cost of a 1.9
including TS rings, Raceware, etc.  Monetarily it wasn't worth the difference
in price but as power hungry as Dad seems to be getting it might have
been better to use the 1.9 TD!  ;-)
  Your Ecco stuff will bolt to another 1.6 or even a 1.5, TD or NA.  I think
the exhaust side bolts up on a 1.9 but not the intake as I recall, unless you
use a 1.6 head arrangement.
  As said, if I was going to go 1.9, go all out and do 1.9 TD.  :)  They seem
to make less mileage than the 1.6 by roughly 7mpg.
     Loren