MK2/MK3 Gas . to diesel swap?

[RunninWild]

Hey guys, sorry if this has been posted a bunch before, google wasn't turning up much information about it.

Currently I have a 96 jetta with an AAZ in good condition with a salvage title. Its going to be too much of a headache/money to get the car inspected so it can be insured so I've been toying with the idea of just swapping the engine into another body rather then selling the car. Right now there are multiple mk2 and mk3 jettas and a few golfs on craigslist in my area in the $500 range. Most of them however are gas engines.

How much work would be involved in swapping it over? I'm assuming for mk3-mk3 I could just pull the motor and tranny and bolt them right in, then I would need to drain the fuel, bypass the gas inline filter and install the diesel filter and swap the diesel fuel sender for the gas fuel pump. Then figure out something for the glow plugs? I'm wondering how the gas ecu would factor into all of this? Would the ignition and everything still function normal if the ecu isnt getting any information from the running engine beyond coolant temp and oil pressure alarms? Would it be very difficult to go from auto to manual?

For mk3-mk2 diesel-diesel I'm assuming it would be pretty straight forward? From what I understand I should be able to drop the tranny/engine right in and maybe swap the coolant fill necks and possibly some of the sensors? I read something about different diameter axle inserts in the tranny need to be swapped or something along those lines? Is that complicated? Is there any parts from the mk3 that would be an upgrade to the mk2 worth swapping over as well (Calipers, suspension, exhaust, seats)?

mk3-mk2 diesel-gas I assume it would be fairly similar to the diesel swap? Were mk2 gas powered cars carbureted? Is there a lift pump in the tank that would need to be removed? Is there much beyond draining the fuel and bypassing the inline gas filte compared to the diesel version of the swapr?

I prefer the looks of the mk2 and I am kind of inclined to go that route unless anyone has any suggestions why it would be better to go mk3?

[vanbcguy]

If you're going Mk3 to Mk3:

You'll want the whole diesel tank - the filler neck is smaller on the gassers (diesel nozzles won't fit) and the venting system is different. There's no evaporative controls on the diesel. Grab the cluster from the diesel car as the AAZ tach receives a different signal from the gasser ones.

You can remove the gasser ECU all together, it won't be doing anything anyways. You can bring all the glow plug wiring and the control module over from the donor, it's just a matter of plugging some things in. For the cleanest possible install just unplug everything from the fuse box and bring the whole harness over - no loose ends that way.

It's a bit easier to install in to a 4 cylinder car than a VR6 one for what it's worth.

Sent from my XT1097 using Tapatalk

[RunninWild]

So the ignition and everything can function without the ecu? Like there doesn't need to be a cam position reading for the ecu to send a signal to the starter? Sorry if this is a dumb question I Havnt worked on fuel injected or cars with an ecu for a while. Would I need to modify the wiring for the aaz cluster to get the tach signal?

What about auto to manual? Is it as simple as cutting out some of the body and bolting the shifting assembly on and running the cable and then installing the interior panels from a 5 speed? There's a Pretty clean looking 94 auto jetta for $300 on cl right now. Buddy had water instead of coolant and the frost plugs popped out of the engine last winter. Think there is a good chance the heatercore blew with it? If thats the case im not sure it's worth the effort. Are they hard to get at in these cars?

Possible transplants
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/5715442149.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/5739342393.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/5733956892.http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/5715641589.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/5715641589.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/nvn/cto/5756892129.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/5752356894.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/5702759865.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/nvn/cto/5769668249.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/5706006105.html
http://abbotsford.craigslist.ca/cto/5777527822.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/5779318144.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/5747602866.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/5778208801.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/5762852796.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/nvn/cto/5761653914.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/cto/5737972806.html
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/rds/cto/5767232944.html

Obviously lots to choose from. Sorry for the long list just posted it to help keep it organized for myself mainly. Feel free to go through it and give suggestions!

[vanbcguy]

The Mk3 platform is pretty basic. No CANBUS or anything like that, just simple circuits with wires and switches. The starter circuit is independent from the ECU and the gauges etc are true gauges measuring things rather than reporting ECU values.

I'd try and stick with a manual car - there's a bunch of extra wiring in the automatic ones, the reverse lights are controlled by the TCU, the axles are different - just a bunch more hassle with little gain.

Heck you should just buy my Mk3 shell - it's a factory AAZ car. I need to yank my AHU out of it for my B3 but that's not much of an ordeal.

Sent from my XT1097 using Tapatalk

[srgtlord]

I would leave the gas tank on the vehicle,  no need to swap to diesel. Just chisel out the filler neck hole with a sharp chisel and a hammer. That's what I did on my MK2

[RunninWild]

In the process of trying to workout a deal for vanbcguys car. Its in nice shape!