Will I regret a 1.9NA swap?

[masterbeavis]

My 1.6NA typical complaint, no power etc. An AAZ isn't in my budget, but found a 1.9NA and 5 speed for $1200.  I can get it cheaper, but I'm debating its worth. How much better is a NA 1.9 over a 1.6?  I know the 1.9 is turbo ready, but until that falls in my lap, will I still hate life with the bigger motor?

[8v-of-fury]

I would think a Caddy weighs less than a Jetta right?  I had no complaints of no power in my Jetta when it was 1.6NA, yeah it was slow-ish.. but it only had 52 hp..

What have you done to this engine? There is a bunch of free stuff you can do to increase power. I would suggest looking at that, and saving the money you have so that you can buy a 1.9TD.. You will hate life if you drop the cash on another NON TURBO.

I would NOT, ABSOLUTELY NOT drop anywhere near $1000 for a 1.9 NON TURBO, no way in hell.

[tyb525]

I am pretty happy with my 1.6na after some engine work, obviously not breaking any records but I get along just fine. I second the thought to work with the engine you already have before dumping money on another engine ,especially another non turbo....

[theman53]

I would buy the N/A 1.9. It is fully functional I am assuming. Running with trans offer him 800. and then when you can add a turbo. The added benefit to it is you can turn it into a TDI when the rebuild time comes. M-TDI that is. I would think that the 1.9L should give you much more low end and more overall power, same mods applied. Save up a few hundred and get a turbo later.

[8v-of-fury]

I dunno if its $800 worth of more torque though.. But I bet AAZ's are hard to find in Cali...

[libbydiesel]

1.9 is 18.75% more than 1.6.   

[theman53]

Yeah, I would keep the 1.6 and use it for spare when the 1.9 needed turned into an M-TDI. But yes, 1.9 is bigger and more options. IF you can get it cheap then I would.

[libbydiesel]

1.9 non-turbo rods are different and so for the mTDI transformation you'd need rods, pistons, head, pump, pump bracket, timing covers, injectors. 

[CRSMP5]

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=32671.0

1200.... hmmm look at link... read my pots made, or hillfdolk at m conversion...

sorry.. i have to pimp it... tdi... 02a... sorry.. why piss away 1200 when his 1500 better deal... if anything... see why shop around... not that great a deal..

[masterbeavis]

ya, I seen that $1500 TDI, but here is my problem.  That $1200 motor and tranny I know I can get for less than a grand, and its local.  That TDI is in New York, and it will tack on another $300 or more to ship, which doubles my budget for this build.

AAZ engines are not very common in CA for less than $2500.  

My Caddy is used in the hills, and carries around 800# worth of extra weight(work tools) taller tires, 3.6something ring and pinion and has a euro shell that adds to the drag of the vehicle.  On flat land it is a tolerable setup, but when I have to do a hill start, or climb a long grade it is embarrasing to wind er up to 4K and sloooowly let the clutch out till it stalls or find its sweet spot at 35MPH where it will not get hot.  I had chosen my engine poorly, but for a $150 field rescue (the entire truck) at the time I could not complain.  Diesel was cheap back then...

Isn't a 1.9 NA an AAZ minus the go anywhere any time soon goodies?  I know I will stumble across a nice turbo someday.

A friend of mine in Canada showed me pictures of 3 MK3's with AAZ/5 speed combos in them at his buddies car death storage yard.  They were all there because of rust.  Before I could arrange anything, everything got crushed.  I wanted to cry.  Car bodies went up $30 a ton and it was time to clean house

With the price of fuel being about .50-70 cents cheaper than gasoline, I am not saving any money at 35 MPG vs a gas motor getting 25-28.  I have a 2.0 and a 2.8 I've been eyeballing as swap candidates, but I know it would take me a million years to get around to getting my truck back on the road.  

[745 turbogreasel]

Purely opinion, but I think you'd get more for less turboing what you have.

I still did the 4000 RPM stall thing once in awhile even after my +T though

[R.O.R-2.0]

i vote to turbo what ya got..

[theman53]

1.9 non-turbo rods are different and so for the mTDI transformation you'd need rods, pistons, head, pump, pump bracket, timing covers, injectors. 

I was thinking that was the industrial engine, sorry. I guess it would depend on what the engine code of the 1.9 you are getting. Also, a turbo can be had usually under 500.00 for all needed, so with what the others said you could do that too.

[gldgti]

the 1Y engine code 1.9 n/a is a brilliant engine. Updated bearings from the aaz for the piston pins, but it still has all the turbo necessities like oil jets for the pistons. On top of that you get a fantastic intake manifold to boot:



pic showing standard GT-15 from an aaz fitted, upside down. Iether way off boost its pretty torqey still ( i have a switch for the turbo so I can turn it off, so to speak, by opening the WG) and it makes a great turbo engine.

With a front mount intercooler and nice exhaust I have dialled the turbo back to just 14psi because anything more and I get too much clutch burning torque - this setup really needs an 02a gearbox if you want to pull the tar off the road. As it is its 0-100 in about 8.5 seconds and I get 5.5l/100km at 120km/h or my wife gets about 4.8l/100km at slower ;-)

If I leave the turbo switch off, 0-100 is about 12 seconds. The car used to have a 1.5D and 0-100 then was about 16 seconds.

[8v-of-fury]

The car used to have a 1.5D and 0-100 then was about 16 seconds.

Wow, my old 1.6D was 22.5 seconds 0-100 km/h.