The only updates we have so far is that we are still parting out the Jetta to help fund this swap. The axles are not going to be cheap. Once we get a little more of the car parted, we should be starting on the fun part of the swap. I figure it will be a few months before we are really digging into this. Dave ps....keep in mind that since this swap is not a customer's, it is not first on the list. Still working on project Midtrbo and another 3800s/c (re)swap that was at Loyde's but never got done.
Gotcha Gotcha, I am also excited about MidTurbo... just don't disappear for to long :]
I've no idea where is VW TDI produced, both "diesel" and "VW" are not in my vocabulary but it doesnt matter, if they produce in PL now, there are zylions VW Golfs and Passates and siblings (Seats, Skodas, etc) here. The most popular tuning in PL is 'lets make a few HP more on VW diesel', I think
Originally posted by 17Car: Cool project! What size wheels are on the donor? I'm guessing 15?
Maybe 16. They came with 15 and 16, last weeks I've lookin (lazy ) for this stuff for fiero, and there are many 16 from Golfs and Jettas. Nice and cheap here, but Im not sure if I like it on pontiac
Other hand, project will be cooler, if engine will be top-powered VW 1.9 TDI. This version is low end - indestructible and microscope mph but pathetic 90HP or am I wrong?
I'll have more details on that in the Haus of Guru thread within the next few weeks. I have a fun game we are going to play while building that car.
As for the TDI, the goal here is fuel economy. I originally wanted to use the jetta 5 speed and swap in a different 5th gear to increase fuel economy, but the Formula and TDI we have are both automatic transmission. I still think we can get great fuel economy. I do like the look of some of the VW wheels on the Fiero. My VR6 Fiero has GTI rims and I think they look better than most aftermarket wheels, in my opinion.
Economy is great for this TDI, true. And they have best opinions here, compare to higher powered 1.9TDI. Maybe a little to much NHV for me, but when I pay for gas for smooooth oldie V8, NHV of small diesel looks much better FYI - gas price here jump to about 6.3$ per galon (last days we had break thru support level in PLN/liter).
I was near to buy nice cond. 16 rim set from Bora last week, for fiero, but I had doubts. Other hand, there are thousands VWs on these rims here, its boring
Still parting out the Jetta to fund the parts needed for the swap. The car is starting to look more like a big skeleton. We need to finish up "Project Midtrbo" and another 3800 swap that will be announced this weekend. After that, we should be in full speed ahead for this swap. Dave
Probably a few, since this thread was linked over on TDIclub. I've been watching it since Dave sent me a link after starting it, since my daily driver is a TDI. That said, I also mainly know Dave through MINI's and his shop/day-job.
[This message has been edited by Ian F (edited 01-28-2011).]
You should really try to get ahold of a 5 speed transmission if possible. those transmissions don't hold up very well. those motor go for well above 250k easily. any 4 cylinder hydraulic trans will work. 1.8t 2.0 and the 1.9 tdi use the same trans. the tdi's just have a taller 5th gear which will get you above the 50mpg mark. While the motor is out please change the timing belt, they like to snap at 70k.Take out the stupid plasic water pump and install a metal one. I will shut up now.You guys are the experts so you probably knew all of this anyway. I just thought i'd add my help since I am vw addict I love the VR6 fiero you did too. I got that same motor i nmy jetta. I will really shut up now.
You should really try to get ahold of a 5 speed transmission if possible. those transmissions don't hold up very well. those motor go for well above 250k easily. any 4 cylinder hydraulic trans will work. 1.8t 2.0 and the 1.9 tdi use the same trans. the tdi's just have a taller 5th gear which will get you above the 50mpg mark. While the motor is out please change the timing belt, they like to snap at 70k.Take out the stupid plasic water pump and install a metal one. I will shut up now.You guys are the experts so you probably knew all of this anyway. I just thought i'd add my help since I am vw addict I love the VR6 fiero you did too. I got that same motor i nmy jetta. I will really shut up now.
I could build either a manual or automatic VW swap, but our Fiero is an auto, so why change it? My VR6 swap uses the 02J manual transmission. The 01M automatic transmission only has high failure rate when: not being serviced every 50,000 miles; also, most techs don't know there is a seperate differential case and fluid that is normally empty by the time problems present themselves. The VW's I maintain rarely have transmission issues because I know what to look for and prevent failures....when they can be prevented. If you look earlier in this thread, the timing belt and water pump have been done, along with the glow plugs and fuel filter.
If you ever get up this way, I'll give you a ride in the VR6. It starts pulling at 1500rpms and keeps pulling all the way to 7500rpms....not a lot of whp, but it just has that european "fast car" feeling. Dave
Here is the latest. The donor car has been stripped. There are still a lot of parts listed on TDI Club and VW Vortex for sale to help fund this swap. The next step is to pull the TDI's intake manifold and clean all the carbon. I normally do this every 50,000 miles on my customer's cars. We waited to do this after the engine was pulled to make it easier. Note that the seats were all shot. Cig burns, stains, etc. Dave
[This message has been edited by bmwguru (edited 03-05-2011).]
we have been on hold for a bit. I have two more swaps to finish up and then we are holding off on the swaps for a bit to get this project done. Sorry for the delay, but life happens. Dave
Following this conversion closely. I've wanted to do this for a long time, I'm just not the guy to pull it off. When you decide to do a manual conversion, we can talk. Although I know it's not needed, good luck and have fun.
we hauled the Formula down to the Haus (we hauled it to my house for the winter) to prep it for paint and interior work, but otherwise not much has happened due to the amount of swaps we need to finish. We have two cars left to build and then the TDI swap will be our only project....we are taking a four month "time off" 3800 swaps to allow us to build this car. Dave
[This message has been edited by bmwguru (edited 06-18-2011).]
We have been working on it lately. The car should be back from paint next week. Ryan did all the prepping to lessen the time spent at the body shop. Then we plan to POR 15 the engine bay and drop the TDI in. The drivetrain is 100% prepped. The intake got the carbon cleaned last week. The TDI should have the intake cleaned every 50,000 miles. It is a pretty simple job. Here are a few before and after pics...
Don't you love when you can barely stick a pencil through the intake gunk? Can't wait to see the pair mated together. How did you deal with the fuel tank? Clean out the stock Fiero tank and drop in the VW pick up (or however it works)?
So, whats the latest on this swap. Im very interested in what you will do for the motor mounts...ect. I have been contimplating this same swap for awhile now. I bought an 87 fiero its a complete drive ready car and a 84 fiero that is in boxes. I just bought a 2002 Golf two weeks ago for the donor. I plan on two versions, one being a transverse mount TDI fiero and another being a Longitudinal mount kit car based on the Fiero. I dicided yesterday to check online and see if anyone had done the same swap before and hit on this post. Anyone know of other TDI in a fiero swap? I'm getting ready to start on mine pretty soon. Im going to see if there is a giude on how to post pictures here.
It has been hard to find the spare time to work on this project. The drivetrain is in the engine bay currently, but I don't plan to update the build thread until it is farther along. There are a few issues we ran into on this setup vs my vr6 setup. the drivetrain is a few inches wider and the 88 cradle is a few inches narrower, so that was one hurdle we had to overcome. the second issue is we are at an impasse as to the way we both want to do the instrument cluster. I figure once we get a free evening, a few beers, ryan and I will come to a mutual decision. The only thing we have decided is that we plan to use the VW cluster. Dave
Im still pretty new to the Fiero, are you saying the 88 cradle is narrower than 87>? Mine is an 87. Do you have pictures of the TDI in the craddle? specificaly motor mounts?
Yeah, we took over a year break from this swap to build other Fieros. we don't build 2.8 swaps....I assume you meant the 3800 turbo 6 speed? That car is finished...just needs test miles. dave
but it doesnt matter, if they produce in PL now, there are zylions VW Golfs and Passates and siblings (Seats, Skodas, etc) here. The most popular tuning in PL is 'lets make a few HP more on VW diesel', I think 
(last days we had break thru support level in PLN/liter).
Can't wait to see the pair mated together. How did you deal with the fuel tank? Clean out the stock Fiero tank and drop in the VW pick up (or however it works)?
