[Vwdiesel] Engine swaps etc.

[William J Toensing]

Most American cars sold in Europe offer a diesel option. This includes Jeeps, Chrysler/Dodge minivans, Calibers, Neons as well as GM & Ford models. I don't know which vehicle uses which engine but recall reading in Autoweek a year or two ago, of a U.S. made Chrysler minivan with right hand drive & a diesel engine that was donated to some organization because they couldn't sell it in the USA.It got something like 40 to 50 MPG. If you would research & find out what engine was engineered for which vehicle, you might be able to avoid reengineering new motor mounts, bell housings, linkages, etc. If these engines are imported into the USA for installation into USA made vehicles it might be possible to buy these diesel engines if you know the right channels to go thru. With the price of gas in Europe going from $4 to $7 or more a gallon & diesel being usually sold for less, often much less, the number diesels being sold in Europe can run from 40% to 70% depending on the country. To sell any vehicle in Europe requires you offer a diesel option if you want to sell in any volume, unless you are talking Rolls Royce, Maybach, Corvette, Ferrari, etc. Cadillac's sold in Europe have diesel options. Does anyone know of any website devoted to such engine swaps? Is there any shop in the USA specializing into diesel engine swaps into gas fueled vehicles?Around 1978 to 1980, I knew of a fellow named Ed Felt in Long Beach, CA who specialized in installing diesel  engines sourced in the UK, into other cars such as  Chev Vegas, Mazda rotary engine powered Mazdas since these cars often had premature engine failures & could be bought cheaply with good bodies. He was able to custom make bell housings to match up the car's transmission up to his diesels. Don't know if he is still around but he was a real genius at this. He was filling a niche for the diesel shortage when you had to wait 9 months to get a new Rabbit diesel, & diesel had not suffered the disrepute in the USA from the poorly engineered GM automotive diesels.