To Diesel, or not to diesel

[Turbinepowered]

That is the question. Okay, so either way something will be diesel powered, I'm just trying to figure out what.

I have two VWs (Actually I own four, but for the purposes of this thread, I own two), a B1 wagon and a BX wagon (Dasher and Fox, respectively).

The Dasher was originally a diesel, 1980 model, but the engine has long been seized, to the point where even a six-foot cheater bar on the crankshaft bolt wouldn't break it free. Head off and it definitely would need some major work to be restored to running condition, so I bought another 1.5 diesel out of a Rabbit of the same era with the intention of swapping it in.

But now I have a few second thoughts. Whichever of the two does not become diesel powered is going to be something of a test mule for me, as I experiment with a dual-fuel propane and alcohol fueled engine setup based on K-basic FI and a propane carburettor.

I'm tempted to drop the diesel in the Fox, with the rebuilt K03 and no boost enrichment to net me another hp or two until I can afford some studs and a new head gasket. Gut the brackets and whatnot from the Dasher, and then use the JN engine out of the Fox to build my high compression turbocharged Miller cycle alcohol engine for the Dasher.

I'm thinking this might work better as the Dasher is a "bigger" car than the Fox, with more space behind and around the rear axle to fit a second fuel tank for the propane source, and I might be mistaken but I think it might have more space under the hood, too.

What say you, fine folks whose judgement I tend to to trust (Not sure why sometimes, but I still do )?

[blkboostedtruck]

i'd say fix the dasher with a diesel and use the fox for your experiment!
dashers i think are getting rare and there are still a few foxes out there?
doing the diesel swap will be faster and you other project sounds like time consuming?
well thats my opinion?
thanks Duane

[Vanagoner]

I'd say diesel up the one which you'd be driving the most- the one most practical for your regular use.  BTW- can an IDI also be used for your alternate fuel experiment? they run efficiently on a lot of different stuff.
  I don't know why you'd use alcohol when veg. oil has a higher energy content, is less volatile, and has a better production yield.  But then, I don't know anything about miller cycle engines.  

[Turbinepowered]

Unfortunately, my darling Dasher is going to need more than a quick engine swap to be back on the road. Brakes overhaul, redo the interior (The seats are shot, dash is cracked, and the climate control system is gutted by someone not-me ), so my other thought was that since I'd be getting involved with it anyway, might as well make an involved engine setup too.

Unfortunately Dashers are rare, but it's slowly getting to where Foxen are rare too. Too many people consider them disposable, I guess, but they're remarkable, very "Volkswagen" cars. Much more so than modern VWs, that's for sure!

As for why alcohol, well, I'm actually shooting to try using yet another waste stream to fuel another car. Biodiesel for the diesel car, then cut the glycerin with some ethanol and gasoline for the other car (Which, incidentally, is also why I won't be converting to EFI; mechanical systems are just more robust, more tolerant) after some trial and error on a stationary setup. The ethanol and gasoline is just to get the viscosity down and improve vaporisation for starting.

I wouldn't personally run WVO straight up through a VW diesel, but that's me.

[Turbinepowered]

After doing a couple measurements, test fits, and whatnot... I will be dieseling a Fox. I test fit the space beside the engine for my K03 turbocharger, it fits with space to spare, and most of the gaskets I ordered for the gas engine will fit the diesel. Since I haven't put them on, they'll be fine.

Turbo's a bit dirty, but no shaft play that I could detect and it spins freely with a fingertip, so I figured I'll clean it up. I think the wastegate might be frozen, but we'll deal with that when we get to it. At least it's stuck closed and not wide open, I'd never spool a turbo wide open. No fuel compensation for boost, so I shouldn't see too much boost.

So, weekend after this one (I don't have another set of days off work for another ten days... I'll have gone almost a month without a day off, makes it hard to work on the car) I'm gonna bribe some friends from work (No service day, we're all off!) and we're going to go pull the longitudinal diesel AC and alternator mounts off the other Dasher, pull the Fox engine, swap flywheels and install a new clutch/pressure plate assembly, then drop it in.

Is there a difference between the longitudinal turbo oil pan (As found in the Quantum diesel) and the transverse turbo pan? I have two turbo oil pans, but never thought to make sure they were the same.

[lord_verminaard]

Cool project!  My Fiancee and I have decided that she wants a Fox Wagon with a diesel swap.  I really think the Fox Wagons are neat cars, lots of space to haul stuff, still nice and small, and somewhat sporty and unique looking with 2 doors.    The Fox also has the advantage of being Audi's early chassis which eventually became the A4 which is good heritage.  

Will be watching the progress.  Good luck!

Brendan