Hi, I just purchased one of those new 1.9 TDs (engine code ABL) listed on eBay from Vanamania in Las Vegas. It was originally designed for a transporter, so it has the dipstick hole on the back side, and an extra coolant tube that comes out of the back of the head. They were nice enough to have a new dipstick hole CNC drilled on the front (the block was casted for it). Supposedly these are about the only differences between it and an AAZ. It appears to have been made in Mexico. Where were AAZs made?
Now another question, since AAZs were never imported into the U.S., where is a good place to get factory parts for it? I know about AutohausAZ and other places that can get a lot of misc. parts for it, but what about the hard stuff like valve covers, timing belt covers, vacuum pumps, etc.? Does Canada have a website like 1stvwparts.com where you can look up prices on factory part numbers online?
I put it on the engine stand last night. I can post some pictures of it if you would like. Thanks.
It came out of the 1996> T4's (Or Eurovan to you)
It's basically AAZ, but they had a much worse injection pump, it's like a NA one, but with a load of switches and stuff nailled to the top of it.
There is generally a plethora of them for sale on
www.ebay.co.uk due to them being, well, a bit small for a van and the fact that they have to be thrashed to get them to keep up with modern traffic.