Engine swap? TDI to gas New Beetle

[siouxcmiracle]

Hi! maybe this is a crazy question, but I have a 1998 TDI New Beetle, and It has the diesel engine, I was wondering if anyone have swapped out the TDI for a gasoline engine, and would it be worth it? whats evolved? Manual transmission of course.

Thanks

[wawalker]

Are you serious? Is the TDI blown or something? If not, and you really want a gasser your TDI is worth a bit more than a comparable 2.0L and even a 1.8T. Swaps are hard--don't build a car you can buy. Sell yours and buy what you want--even if it is blown, sell it, the diference in price and hassle to go gas will still be cheaper.

[hestersu]

I would agree. Sell it and buy what you want. The swap would be super expensive and not have near the value of the TDI. Too many people are looking for a TDI to buy.

[SMG]

What's the reason for the swap? Is the motor blown? Do you find the TDI slow?

[CoriBug]

WHY?

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by wawalker

Swaps are hard--don't build a car you can buy.

Well put by my man Bill! :highfive:

Unless you're going to a VR6, I'd stick with the TDI. You would have to change A LOT of stuff:

Engine
Wiring
Cooling system (possibly)
Gauge Cluster
Exhaust
Transmission
Front Suspension

And you'd have to get the title changed as well, depending on your location.

[akasha1963]

I would LOVE to have a TDI. They are a bear to find used though. I got a really good deal on my bug but if I had a choice I would have bought a TDI.

[mrchaotica]

WTF?! The TDI is the best engine they put in these things! If you've got one, keep it and count yourself lucky.

(And if you want more power, go to tdiclub.com and read up (in the forums, not the TDI FAQ -- it's obsolete) about ECU tunes and injector nozzles. You can pretty easily get comparable performance to a 1.8T. Mine's got RC2 and .216 nozzles, and seems about as quick as the 1.8T I drove the other day.)

[MichelleRoze]

Agreed with all the above posts! Don't swap the TDI for a gasser engine. If you really want a gasser, buy one. The TDI is worth a lot more and with the mileage those cars get, lots of people want them! List the car here for sale, I bet it would get snatched up real quick and you'd have the money you need to get the gasser you really want.

Like everyone else, is the engine blown? Is that the reason for the swap? This is my first TDI and I love it, it may take some time to get used to if you are used to quiet, lots of HP cars, etc, but it will definately be worth it in the long run!

[mrchaotica]

Heh, I just realized how old the original post was (4 months ago). I think we scared him off...

[rsqrd]

I wanna do the opposite; put a TDI into a gasser, a cabrio to be specific.

[Smileybug]

Its certainly do-able. If you check over on Vortex you might be able to find a thread about it. I know people have done diesel engine swaps into the MK1 cabriolets so I imagine its been done in the MK3 cabrios.

[RedThunder94]

lol i know im a day late and a dollar short but i would of traded the OP for our gasser with maybe even some cash thrown in, provided it was a five speed. lol, man oh man, poor guy, he prolly ran off after all those other posts, hehe.

[rsqrd]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

Its certainly do-able. If you check over on Vortex you might be able to find a thread about it. I know people have done diesel engine swaps into the MK1 cabriolets so I imagine its been done in the MK3 cabrios.

vortex?

[Libanass]

Hi

I'd have to reask the first question
I'm moving to lebanon next year and I want to take my nbc with me
the only big problem is that it's a tdi and diesel cars are forbidden over there

so I have no choice and I have to swap it to an 1.8 turbo

do you guys think it's possible ?

did anyone do it around here? so I can get an idea of the work it has to take?

thanks

[RedThunder94]

why don't you sell your tdi and get a gasser over there? prolly would save you time, money, and frustration.

[Barriaga]

wow, dont get rid of the tdi(unless you wanna give it to me ) seriously, i havnt read any of the replys yet but im sure other people will agree that if the tdi is not blown or anything, the best bet is to keep it. they get mad mpgs and i love tuner diesels...tdi ftw!(too bad i dont have one)

[The Cheat]

1. tell me the color of your beetle.
2. i find the same color, options, and transmission.
3. you sign the title over, i sign mine over.
4. you enjoy 25mpg, i enjoy 52.
5. fin.

5 easy steps.

seriously, it could be done, i did a tdi>vr6t swap a couple years back for a friend, but WHY???

[Libanass]

Originally Posted by The Cheat

1. tell me the color of your beetle.
2. i find the same color, options, and transmission.
3. you sign the title over, i sign mine over.
4. you enjoy 25mpg, i enjoy 52.
5. fin.

5 easy steps.

seriously, it could be done, i did a tdi>vr6t swap a couple years back for a friend, but WHY???

it could be interesting, but shipping costs are incredible

if you can take care of that, I can hear the best offer you can give me. this need to be done before summer 2010

mine is a relfex silver tdi full option and only 30 000 miles and a 5 speed manual (I hate automatic). and lately I have modded it all US, so it should go legal over there

Piwi, my new nbc reflex silver tdi



I know selling it should be the easiest way, but I love her so much I can't get rid of it
when I say I love here, I mean the car, but not the engine
I'm sick of tractor sound on a convertible new beetle. I think this is a waste.
I like tdi but far to be on a convertible. it's like a super top sexy model with hairy legs.. (it's only my opinion, I like tdi but I have no choice, I have to switch to petrol, especially a 1.8 turbo.. I like to keep some power )

there's plenty of new beetle convertible with a tdi in europe, more than half. so it's not a waste

[Libanass]

Originally Posted by Barriaga

wow, dont get rid of the tdi(unless you wanna give it to me ) seriously, i havnt read any of the replys yet but im sure other people will agree that if the tdi is not blown or anything, the best bet is to keep it. they get mad mpgs and i love tuner diesels...tdi ftw!(too bad i dont have one)

I'd have no problem keeping a tdi
I like its torque so much, but I'm moving to lebanon and diesel engine are only allowed on trucks
because they get black smokes on hills of the moutains of lebanon and blind the drivers in the back and it smells very bad. ( why?? because our diesel from our gaz stations is freakin dirty, and people don't do good maintenance for the car)
it's 100% forbidden, and there's no way this will change