introduction/ opinions wanted

[jboogie13]

First topic post on the forums, ive been lurking for a few months since i bought my 1991 eco diesel with 164k on the clock. the car is 100% stock(and in great condition for its age) aside from the speakers/stereo,i put an ACN trans in it (still have avx..busted case) and i have removed the catalytic converter. other than that everything is factory and complete..right down to the original clip on the fuel screw on the injection pump. this is where the opinions come in, I am torn as to whether i should leave everything as it is since it is in such good condition, or if i should break off the collar on the IP and start tuning (followed by trophy seats, etc). i love the car but if im going to daily it i need to be making more power as the stock 60hp(at best) is borderline dangerously slow around my area. i just feel bad modding a somewhat rare car in such factory condition. unless they really arent that rare/special?

thanks in advance, ive already learned so much from these forums just by reading old posts/archives!

[bbob203]

turn up the fuel screw!

[8v-of-fury]

No volkswagen diesel is ever considered rare.. sorry to break your bubble. If you are not having fun with it... Why drive it??

Mod it. Do it properly and you wont get any hate from anyone on it.

[bajacalal]

They are definitely rare around here.

However, I should point out that, rare and collectable are separate concepts. Some things are both rare and collectable, some things are collectable but not rare, and some things are rare but not really considered collectable. I think that last one applies to our cars.

And the eco-diesel stuff doesn't seem to be that popular anyway, since the stock power of those is basically compromised.

[Syncroincity]

Do a search on "Giles Pump".  You need this.

[jboogie13]

haha thanks for all the replies guys. guess im breaking that collar off once i find a nice way to install a boost controller.. gotta get that full 13psi out of that snail. I have looked up the giles stuff and would love a giles pump, but i dont have that kind of money to pour into my idi yet. I guess my goal right now is to obtain stock tdi power out of my car. i was considering experimenting with a 10mm ahu pump head in an eco pump, paired with a 1z/ahu turbo or equivalent (condensed version). much reading done on the subject, and still more to do. i love the simplicity of the car being all mechanical.

[ORCoaster]

I love the mechanical side of these cars and the thumbs up I get on the expressway as I am tooling along.   The best comments come from the station attendants that smell the WVO and know what I am really burning for fuel but need their stock in a minor manner. 

[jboogie13]

ive been reading around a bit, but never really found a straight answer. to everybody who dailies their 1.6TD, what kind of power are you making?

[mystery3]

Diesel Two door mkI jettas are rare and almost collectable, syncros are rare and expensive, mkII are not rare nor collectable. A few mild engine mods would be easily reversible should you care to bring it back to stock some day but If I were you I'd get an IC and turn up the fuel a bit, perhaps an exhaust.

[pointynoggin]

I have a different car than you but I can let you know what I think you should do.

first get a boost gauge and exhaust gas temp gauge, egt.  I put them on the a-pillar in a two gauge pod from vw craft.

get a cheap ebay boost controller or just disconnect the hose going to the wastegate and plug the pressure side and disable the blowoff valve.  your boost level will likely be low even uncontrolled due to the low fuel rate I understand the eco has.  now is the time to play with the max fuel screw if you like.

next decide what you boost limit is, I choose 16psi with no intercooler and 20psi once i get one installed, then call giles and get a pump with a LDA which will increase fuel based on boost level.

at this point you will have maybe 80 or 90hp which is a conservative estimate.

now you have total boost and fuel control, next job is to increase air density going in and reduce back pressure going out which means a intercooler and larger exhaust.

other points to consider, when you blow your head gasket don't sweat it just measure your piston protrusion and put a new one in with arp head studs.  if you need new injectors only go to giles or find nozzles from europe and do it yourself.

all the info you need is on this site or in the bentley.

[Syncroincity]

Good reading in the FAQs here as well, "Make your car faster" threads, lots of info on tweaking the pump.
Not having an LDA on your pump means you can't increase fuel with boost.
You can also modify (grind) the fueling pin that controls delivery, or replace it with a more aggresive one.

Left is a typical VW pin (AAZ in this case) right is a Rover (UK) pin... narrower = more fuel delivery

Some of them have a flat spot, you can just rotate the pin so the flat spot is riding the fuel lever for more delivery.

[jboogie13]

thanks for the advice on the pin, i sense a machining project brewing  !