Author Topic: N/A to TD conversion (Read 5499 times)

ericgoum · « **on:** August 18, 2008, 10:25:23 am »

Hello again,

After 5 or so months on my freshly rebuilt N/A I am thinking of the possibility of adding a turbo to it. This is mainly being considered because a few months ago while digging around at the junkyard I found a .71 fifth gear to replace the .75 currently in my 1985 Jetta transmission. I have been planning to replace this gear whenever I need to do a clutch job which shouldn't be too much longer. Currently when driving on the highway around 60mph I find that I can just barely stay if 5th gear when going up long hills, I know that once I have .71 gearing it will be close to impossible given the couple hundred fewer rpms I will have access to at those speeds.

I have recently seen parts from a 1.6 TD engine on ebay and that made me wonder about converting to TD for those times when I really need the little extra push and for when I'm carrying more than just myself in the car. So finally, here are my questions.

1) Is this something "safe" to do with my N/A motor?
2) What parts would I need for this conversion? (I'm thinking, intake, exhaust, oil line, turbo, air box...TD Injection pump) Besides the rare sight of these parts on ebay or junkyards are there any places where I can find these parts new or rebuilt?
3) When I rebuilt the motor I got a good deal on some turbo pistons, but naturally I don't have the oil squirter to accompany them. Is the oil squirter a critical part to have even if I won't be on boost all that much, and if so would I have to take the block apart to put it on?
4) My last question is whether I would actually need a TD injection pump or could I get by on the N/A one?

Thanks for any help you guys can provide, I did try searching but after looking though a dozen or so pages I figured I would just ask.

Thanks again,

Eric

dillenger1 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2008, 02:10:12 pm »

hello eric,some will tell you its not safe,others ok.It depends on how well you build it.You can keep oil temps down with stock (oil cooler/warmer)unit or a therm. controlled unit.you dont need a turbo pump,but it would help the smoke(if you want power)The ecos had a turbo with no fuel enrichment.You can tap the oil pan for a drain,and theres t3 oil supply kits on ebay for cheap.You will need both manifolds,and also you can tap the na oil filter housing to supplyt oil to turbo.

ericgoum · « **Reply #2 on:** August 19, 2008, 07:47:04 am »

In order to make it "safe" what would I need to make sure I do in the build? When you say stock oil cooler you mean an external radiator type cooler? I kinda like the idea of having the turbo pump so at least it would be getting the proper fuel and such for the turbo. At the same time I really don't want to sacrifice too much MPG by doing that. Like I said originally I don't think I would be in the boost too much, but that would probably change once I had the ability to use it. Ideally I'd like to find a whole TD engine and rebuild it since I now know what goes into that, the only problem is availability in the south. Since I bought this car about 1.5 years ago I've only seen a handful of old vw diesels on craigslist, none of which were turbo cars. Oh well, thanks for the input, any idea where I could find the manifolds and other needed parts besides on ebay?

Thanks,

Eric

RabbitJockey · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2008, 03:54:42 pm »

its not as dangerous as some people make it sound

dillenger1 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2008, 04:07:02 pm »

Yes once you enter the "dark side" theres no going back.Once you feel the turbo spool up under yer pants its over!

:oops:My obsession started with driving my fathers 4bta cummins.he was making gobs of power with pump mods and injectors.

zukgod1 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2008, 04:59:30 pm »

BOOST IT AND NEVER LOOK BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dirtrag2 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2008, 05:21:44 pm »

my recipe is add tons of fuel, absurd amounts of boost... then drive it like you stole it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

FWD.MOTION · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2008, 06:13:30 am »

I just did this last night and It took me forever to compleat! When I finally got it back to turn key after the timing belt and head gasket job It ran like *** and blew the gasket in the turbo....'

Freshly re-built motor, freshly painted engine bay and boom there goes oil everywhere and I mean everywhere... In a matter of three seconds everything was gone out of the oil pan... brandnew bottle of 45$ synthetic oil gone

consider yourself lucky this never happend to you....rebuild your turbo even if it feels like glass when you spin it....

My mess went back to N/A very quickly
good luck

zukgod1 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2008, 06:47:45 am »

If you have ever read any of my disaster posts you would see that I agree, it's not worth the $100 rebuild kit for the problems it can cause.