[Vwdiesel] Gas to Diesel conversion?

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

> You might need to swap engine mounts, but the holes should
>  be there for it.

  If it's a pre 85 Jetta then the mounts are for sure the same except the
one by the injector pump (front or passenger side, depending on your
orientation.)  The diesel mount is heavier than the gas but is the same
size.  Of course a different mount holder plate.

You would want to use a diesel tranny, though, as gas
> trannies are geared different.

  Not always.  The gassers came with a variety of transmissions.  Best
thing is to see which it has.  Again, if it's a pre 85 then anything it has
would be useable, just not necessarily ideal.  Even some of the early,
lower ratio trannies aren't a lot lower than the A2 highest ratio trannies.
Of course there are some that are really low, but then so is the __ __ X
eco transmission.


The gauge clusters are different, but that is not too
> big of a deal.

  The nice thing is that most of the wiring should be there.  :)  Pretty
much,
just plug in a diesel cluster and tada!  A1 cluster would just have a glow
light instead of an oxs and the speedo says diesel fuel only I believe.

Another issue is inspecting a diesel registered as a gas car. If
>  they check emissions, then the car will most likely fail.

  That would be an issue without getting information on how to straighten
that out first!  We don't have inspections here so it wouldn't be a problem.
It'd sure be tough explaining it to a know-nothing inspector though.

>  But, people do it. Someone out there has a nifty diesel powered scirroco
>  (originally gas) for example.  I would like to convert a gas vehicle to
> diesel
>  some day. Probably an older vehicle that could be exempt from emissions. I
>  think a late 70's dodge van with a cummins turbo diesel would be the
> ultimate long-distance runner!

  Weight would be a MAJOR factor there wouldn't it? I'd always heard the
front end was the hold up on getting the Cummins on the market, in the
pickups. I'd think you'd need the front suspension from a Cummins
equipped van.  Did they ever finally make any of those?  Might not
"bolt up" to an older van though. :(
     The only other issue I can think of in the gas - diesel swap would
be the fuel system.  The return is there but plumbing is different, pump
would need removed, etc.  Some minor electrical stuff and so forth.
     Loren