Consensus on 1.9TD v. 1.6TD??

[Josh]

I've been away in India for a long while!  But it seems that the 1.9TD isn't as popular anymore??  

  Have people discarded the idea that a 1.9TD, sporting a 1.6TD mechanical head, intercooled, with a turned-up 1.6TD pump and standard 1.6TD turbo, along with a 5-speed diesel tranny, is the way to achieve the most speed/power in a rabbit/golf?  

  Or is the 1.6TD considered superior now because people think they can more safely squeeze some higher rpms out of it?  Somebody let me know what's going on!!  

  Thanks!

   -Josh

[vwmike]

I don't think that people are of the mind that the 1.6 is better than the 1.9 so much as the 1.6 is much easier to come by....especially down here in the states where they weren't sold. It's true that the 1.9 has more issues such as the crank pulley. I don't think I'd want to switch back to a 1.6 head as to my knowledge the valves and ports are smaller. Mechanical lifters are a very small peice of the puzzle and nothing I would even worry about. The only time mechanical lifters are ever really sought after is in extreme high rpm cases - nothing you're going to spin with your IDI.

As for the pump, both the 1.6 and 1.9 pumps have their strong points. I think a 1.9 pump with a 1.6 LDA would be best. The intercooler is definitely a go, as well as the 1.6 turbo.

[rackley]

Keep in mind that the 1.6's are getting older and as such replacement parts are getting much more expensive.  For example, new water pump pulleys are $160+ EACH (two pulleys for the water pump) from the dealership now.  1.6's also have v-belt issues (I can attest to this one!) whereas the 1.9's have serpentine belts.  

If I had to do it over again I would have picked up a 1.9 instead of a 1.6.

[Josh]

Hydraulic heads cannibalize some of the power of the engine, tho; wouldn't the performance-minded builder prefer a mechanical head?  Or do these 1.9TD heads really have larger valves, to feed the larger displacement?  

  -Josh

[rackley]

Hydraulic vs. solid lifters on these engines is a non-issue except for asthetic issues like valve clatter in the morning, which you won't even hear on a diesel anyhow.

[fspGTD]

Hey rackley - there are apparently a few pulley variants across the 1.6lTD engines.  Not all of them are expensive.  For example, the cost of the water pump pulleys for an '84 Rabbit 1.6lTD with power steering are $5 and $15:  http://www.worldimpex.com/item_detail.html?sku=68591
http://www.worldimpex.com/item_detail.html?sku=44007

[Josh]

Hydraulic vs. solid lifters on these engines is a non-issue except for asthetic issues like valve clatter in the morning, which you won't even hear on a diesel anyhow.

  Are you certain?  Jack Ewald's site at vwdieselparts.com says somewhere that this isn't the case.  It'd be good to know what's actually the case before I dump much more cash into the "ideal" motor/motors for my vehicles.  

  Do you know about the 1.9TD heads?  Do they have the potential for larger flow via bigger valves?  

  Thanks,
   -Josh

[rackley]

I speak from general engine/mechanical knowledge, unless there is some odd quirk (or poor design) in the VW engines that makes their situation different.

[entuzijast]

Ok, so in general, who doesn't want to rev his diesel (like me) should get the 1.9 pump? I am planning to change it anyway on my 1V...
Would i have to make some changes to the pump because of smaller displacement?

[andy2]

I love the 1.9 with its true diesel tug at lower rpm and I would sacrifice a higher reving diesel engine for one with more touque any day of the week.My tach is currently not working so I can not provide any rpm data,however my old 1.6 pulled hard to 4500 rpm with a mildly shimmed governor spring and this 1.9 without a governor feels like its pulling hard till a bare minimum of 4500 rpm(I think).So with out comfirming my 1.9's revibility I still like it better.There are some other mods I have done to my engine like lightening the con rods,balancing everything, lightening the flywheel and enlarging the exhaust ports in the head as well.I will get back asap on what kind of rpm my engine pulls hard to.

[Maarten]

I'm working on a JR 70hp 1.6TD in my toolshed at the moment, a lot of cleaning and replacing seals and stuff before I drop it into my caddy.. but yesterday someone offered me a 1.9TD AAZ with turbo and stock IC for €400,-

I know a dude who is interested in my 1.6TD, which will go for about €350,- incl Garett T3 Turbo.

Is it the hassle worthwhile (picking up the 1.9 100km from here) to swap the 1.6 for the 1.9?

And what kind of HP/TQ can I expect from the 1.9 compared to the 1.6. I know the 1.9 has more headroom cause of the 300cc more, more TQ at low rpm but revs less..

I already have the pump and injectors from a 1.6GTD (RA/SB enginecode) that I was planning to use in my 1.6TD.