[Vwdiesel] Gas Golf -> 1.9 TD conversion?

[Brett]

Hello,

Since my '89 Jetta's engine is fairly worn out and doesn't like starting in
0 degree farenheit weather, I will most likely need to replace it with a
new engine before next winter. I have been looking around for prices of
engines, searching through old mailing list messages and found that a
complete 1.9 TD would be about $3200 or so.

I want the utility of a hatchback, since the Jetta isn't too good at
hauling couches, etc. So that makes me think of buying a Golf TDI, but I
don't like the price and the complexity of all the electronics associated
with recent TDIs. So, to get to the point, I had a brain surge last night
that I could buy a late A2 (1990-1992) gas Golf with a good body, and swap
a 1.9 TD into it, and use my Jetta for any other necessary diesel parts. It
seems like getting a turnkey 1.9 TD might be the best idea for ease of
installation. If I bought a Golf with a 1.8 litre engine, would I be safe
to use the gas transmission? I'd be buying a 5-speed. Also, would the fuel
tank need to be swapped? (I'll have to get EKTA going to check part numbers
if I do end up doing this.) When is the last model year that diesel Golfs
were available in the U.S. before the TDIs in 1999? I checked Carpoint and
no diesel option showed from 1988-1992. Canada had 1.6 NA Golfs until 1992,
so I'm not too used to what was available in the U.S. since I didn't used
to live here. I'm thinking if I do this, it'll likely be a summer project.
The wife doesn't like the idea too much (she asked why I have to keep
buying sh*tpiece cars). But I'm not too concerned about that, I just want a
simple turbodiesel Golf. :)