|
Project KEEP IT WEIRD XJ/VW 1.9L TDI swap - Overlander
Hi all! I am excited to get started on this project as I've been toying with the idea for 2 years now. After countless hours of scouring forums and compiling information, I feel its my time to give back to the community by starting this build thread to follow the progress of this build/swap to hopefully inspire others to build or to help anyone out with similar issues. I am by no means a master fabricator or mechanic but I've grown up around around mechanics my whole life and wouldn't consider myself totally naive to the trade. I also have a few people with more knowledge than I, helping out on this build as it goes on.
A little introduction- July 2017 - $1000 for donor car and engine I purchased a donor VW TDI Golf with an ALH 1.9l engine. A huge fir tree had fallen on it over the winter and destroyed the body but leaving the engine bay completely intact. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...abaeef739.jpeg This sweet craigslist find was $1000!! At the local junkyard they want $1295 for the engine with no turbo! This car was the previous owners daily and he is a mechanic by trade, so needless to say the engine was in very good condition and most accessories had been replaced 1 month prior to the accident. Timing belt, alternator, etc. I towed this bad boy on a flatbed I had borrowed, to my house in order to start gutting the vehicle. I figured I need the engine, ecu, wiring harness and a few other little things but everything else that is salvageable will go up for sale. Between starting a new job and it just being summer, that whole process took about 2 months but know all what I need is tucked away in the garage for now and the shell of the car got scrapped with a free tow nonetheless. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...55f8ed087.jpeg September 2017 - $700 for shell of the project We had been searching for either a Toyota pickup/4runner with solid front axle or a Cherokee to perform this swap. The idea behind it is that even though both engines that come with those vehicles stock are extremely reliable, they aren't very fuel efficient compared to a small diesel. I have always been a VW guy and know for a fact that the 1.9 ALH TDI also holds the same reputation if not better as the 22R and 4.0HO. After finding other people who have attempted this swap get around 25-32 mpg, we decided this was the engine that we needed for our dependable/low maintenance/fuel efficient off road overlander rig. Hopefully we can keep the budget at $8000 maximum. I'd like to show people that its possible for relatively little money, to build extremely capable rigs, while recycling vehicles and focusing on reducing emissions. After seeing many over inflated toyotas and jeeps that were in terrible condition for their price or either so far away from being stock that you cant trust it anymore, we find a recently posted ad on craigslist for a 1994 Cherokee for $800 obo, doesn't drive. Better yet, located in our city and a 5 speed manual. So we head on down there to see the condition and whats keeping it from driving. A quick rundown from the owner and a little look around, I offered to buy it and pick it up the next day. The owner was extremely happy to get the ad of CL and sold it to me for $700. Tags had been done in June as had all new tires. 2 spares, Thule roof rack, aftermarket stereo with AUX and speakers. It was a farm vehicle most its life and before that resided in SoCal, never saw much ice and has no rust issues. Body is pretty straight as it wasn't wheeled and interior was decent with no rips, headliner is perfect. A quick interior detail and it starts to come to life. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...99220c1379.jpg Let the repairs/mods/swap begin! - October 2017 - $99 for clutch hydraulics
November 2017 - $329.11 for clutch and shift components
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...001db2386a.jpg It was one of those crappy plastic ones from LuK. I highly advise that no one uses these throw-out bearings. Last thing on the list of junk in the bellhousing, were all the slave cylinder components. Oh yeah and a cheap magnet that detached from a brand new harbor freight telescopic magnet that i bought hoping to fish out the pushrod prior tranny drop. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...cbffc84904.jpg The literal icing on the cake was the hydraulic fluid from slave that was sparyed everywhere in the bellhousing plus all over clutch, pressure plate, flywheel. How this Jeep ran, I don't know, maybe cause its a Jeep! https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...be14915d60.jpg The shifter cover seal basically disintegrated when we took of the shift lever and fell into pieces in the transmission. We aren't too worried since its just plastic. We also found that the PO has installed the pilot bearing in the wrong way with seal towards the motor. After 5 cans of break cleaner, we cleaned up the bellhousing and cover plate and reinstalled everything. Drained what was left in the tranny and topped it off with new fluid. It now drives like shifting a hot knife through butter! Black Friday 2017 - $1545 for 3" lift kit w/HD steering upgrade and misc parts
More updates will follow and I'll edit this post with the few pictures I have a the moment. From now on, I'll start a little video series on youtube, so expect to see that soon. The grand total so far sits at $3673. Once I get the garage organized, Ill start selling all the VW components I don't need and can hopefully help some people out and make a few bucks back. |
Photos!!!!!!
|
Yea, interesting for sure....Pics
|
updated the original post with some photos
|
Moar please!
|
Still waiting on the parts to arrive from the black friday sale. I guess IRO is a bit backed up after the sale.
After a few days of constant rain, I noticed my passenger side front floor pan and rear cargo area are getting wet. It seems as if the seal on the lift door is really old and soft as are most of the other seals. All window wipers are pretty shot. Im also guessing that the windshield leaks. Im gonna test that pretty soon and decide whether I change it out or not. It does have a few chips missing from it all over. Lets see what I can find at the junkyard tomorrow. Does anyone know of a good site to look for seals, or have recommendations on a brand? Ive found many but am weary of their quality. As for upcoming upgrades: Im looking to make the vehicle safe for the rainy weather we get here in Oregon, it also should be the worst winter we've seen in years. For headlights I was thinking about getting the Rampage Jeep 5089927 Halogen Conversion Headlight Kit, using the bulbs that come with it for a while, and if need be, eventually change the bulbs for newer LED H4's. I could just order a cheap set of DOT approved LED 5x7's but I really like the reflective properties of the Rampage headlights. Any opinion on these reflectors? I'm also in the market for wheels and tires. For the HD steering upgrade I need a wheel with max backspacing of 4.5" and the stock Jeep wheels don't cut it. Thats fine, I'll leave them with the current tires and use them for commuting in the summer since they are new and I should use them. I've pretty much narrowed down my results to the Dick Cepek Fun Country 31"x10.5x15 on Crager Soft 8 black steel wheels with 4" backspacing. I would really like alloys but I have to start saving a little and I feel like I can on the wheels and not lose dependability of the rig. I'm thinking of these wheels because we have many different types of terrain here in Oregon which change every season. From sand, to gravel, from pavement to mud and the obligatory snow on the way to snowboard, we hope these wheels will deliver the performance they proclaim. I also want to flush the cooling sytem and replace any hoses that need to be and fill with quality antifreeze. I need this engine to last at least until the spring once we start the swap. That'll be it until 2018! I think this will be a very solid start though in creating a dependable all around rig for what we like to explore. |
Nice Build!
IMHO the 1994 country interior is about as good as it gets. |
Very nice! I can appreciate the focus on reduced emissions, I will keep this engine in mine if my 4.0L goes south (has 251k miles on it) and if you're able to swap this in fairly easily. Do you need to buy a new bellhousing and shaft for the transmission or something?
|
I have the rampage housings with their bulbs and also the LMC wire harness upgrade and it's nice and bright without having to worry about blinding people.
|
Originally Posted by mannydantyla
(Post 3445450)
Very nice! I can appreciate the focus on reduced emissions, I will keep this engine in mine if my 4.0L goes south (has 251k miles on it) and if you're able to swap this in fairly easily. Do you need to buy a new bellhousing and shaft for the transmission or something?
http://gastodiesel.tdconversions.com/adapter/ I believe the guy who makes them is a forum member.
Originally Posted by PatBlue08
(Post 3445462)
I have the rampage housings with their bulbs and also the LMC wire harness upgrade and it's nice and bright without having to worry about blinding people.
Update: I received the last bit of all the parts I ordered today. I replaced the windshield on Monday for $259 and last weekend I went to the junkyard and got all new window trim, outside window wipes, rear hatch and front passenger door weatherstrip, drivers seat belt buckle, rear middle seat belt buckle for $50. Just today I went to the local thrift store and picked up yakima snowboard carrier for $10, fits 4 boards/6skis. I'm busy this weekend but I think the following I'll tackle the suspension, steering and brakes. Then it's wheels and tires! |
Nice start to a cool project.
I assume you have read my build thread which is what started me building TDI adapters. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/20...ighlight=evguy We still love our diesel XJ and just finished a JKU for my daughter. I can supply my XJ motor mounts unwelded as a DIY kit since you have an ALH and not the BEW that the mounts were designed for. The ALH will want to sit at more of an angle to clear the steering box so my pre welded mounts wont work. |
Originally Posted by evguy
(Post 3447689)
Nice start to a cool project.
I assume you have read my build thread which is what started me building TDI adapters. https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/20...ighlight=evguy We still love our diesel XJ and just finished a JKU for my daughter. I can supply my XJ motor mounts unwelded as a DIY kit since you have an ALH and not the BEW that the mounts were designed for. The ALH will want to sit at more of an angle to clear the steering box so my pre welded mounts wont work. That's good to know about the motor mounts. I have a coworker who is a pretty good welder and he has offered to help with the project. Have you seen anyone use your unwelded mounts on an ALH? I hope you don't mind but I will most likely ask for your advise down the road once the swap starts. I read that you kept the engine on its own ECU and the Jeep on its own. How has that been working for you? |
Lots of guys have used the unwelded mounts with great success, they are a huge time saver.
We have had no problem with the electronics running the two ECU's and I just did the same thing on my kids JKU swap. I'll try to keep reading your build thread and answer any questions that I can. If you need an answer in a hurry just email me randy@tdconversions.com I have to say the XJ is one of the funnest vehicles we have owned in many years, its pretty twitchy in the rain when the boost comes up. :devil2: You need at least 2" of lift to get pan clearance and you will gain a bit of lift just from the lighter engine.https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...ad43c0c0f5.jpg |
I must say I thought about doing this swap last night while laying awake in bed
evguy what kind of MPG are you getting? |
The XJ gets about 30MPG (US) and the JK is about 26 MPG.
The XJ is a real blast to drive with its bigger turbo and stage 4 tune. I don't want to hijack this thread, feel free to read my build thread. |
| All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:25 PM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands