Motor Swap questions....

Hi folks,
Here is my scenario... I just can't seem to get my hands
on a diesel....well they are sold..... heavy competition i guess.
So I got a brain storm...... I found a trasher.....
Apparrently, it has 85,000 on it.... it is a 1980 rabbit diesel.
It could very well have 85,000 on it... it has been sitting for
like ten years. Owner claims it overheated and needs a head gasket.
so I would buy this for the diesel motor.... (that currently doesn't run)
and stick it in a rabbit that is gas powered.....
Then I will have my rabbit diesel.....
I have my eyes on a 1984 rabbit convertible...
So it would become a 1984 rabbit diesel convertible......
I am totally hip on working on cars..... restored my
91 subie last year.... took her off the jack stands and drove it
to Texas... "trixie" did well. she used about a 1/2 quart of oil...
the whole trip.....
SO ANYWAY, I figure there is stuff that has to be switched out
beside the motor(ofcourse).... (gas tanks)... or get a new one
cause it (diesel has sat for years)
I figure I will regasket or maybe rebuild the diesel.....
WELL, I was wondering what the forum has to think???
Is this do-able. the conversion... motorswap.....
remember it is an 81 diesel ----> to a 84 gas convertible...
A THOUGHT: I figure I will see if I can make the diesel
motor spin over by hand FIRST OFF....... well
How is this done?? no spark plugs to remove so that it spins
over with ease...... Do I remove the injectors?
So your Guidance is greatly appreciated......

thanks , Micky

just push on the wrench and wait for the compression to dissipate, reposition the wrench and go again. you could remove the injectors but that is a pain; however since it sounds as if the head is coming off anyway it may be worth it. if you buy both cars then it should be easy to canibalise one to get all of the diesel related stuff to go in the other. in fact you can probably swap the engine/transmission combinations from one car directly to the other, if not the difference will probably just be in the engine/transmission mounting brackets. the trickey part will be in changing the wire harness to make a gasser suitable for a diesel. i'm fairly sure that the wire harness, to include the fuse pannel, will come out in subassemblies, but considering the two cars are three years apart you might have to be mildly creative with matching the two harnesses togather. my major concern would be that the head is in good enough condition to be reused; that, of cource, you won't be able to determine untill the head is off.

Yes, the head.. is the question.....
It is always that subject on dumping cash into cars.
How much will I spend???? And we never really know...
I had bought a subie for 200 skins...... I had a good
feeling about the car..... but... even stilll I had to
stop counting the cash that I dumped into it after
2 grand....It was well worth it.....
SO back on the topic here....
I don't know about getting parts for a diesel motor...
Can I get a reconditioned diesel head???????
Or do I end up scouting countless j-yards in the area..
If this situation was to arise.
Oh, yeah the tranny in the 81 is a four speed...
looking for a gasser that is a 5 spd......
are the 4 and the 5 speeds the same physical size?
I would like the diesel to be a 5 speed..
thanks, Mick

Do it the cheap way. If you do everything yourself such as assembly and dissassembly then its all right. Or you can go and get a nice running engine that s a rebuild or take one from a junk car. But first I would take apart the diesel and see what kindof condition its in. If piston clearence is fine get a basic rebuild kit and do all rings bearings and such,oil pump, hone it, and hot tank it (and see if its cracked or needs some mashine work first) then rebuild the head in a mashine shop ($200-400) and you will get lotsa miles out of your diesel. Make sure that its not super corroded (it was sitting) or cracked everywhere. Also its gonna be pretty hard to take it apart because of its age and rust and overheating. So prepare yourself for drilling, breaking bolts off and putting in Helly coils. I personally think that diesel is the best option for this car. (gas prices, torque and the life span of the engine!) Remember you can always pick up another diesel which is much cheaper than rebuilding (check with the wreckers first - I found lotsa treasures there when I was patient enought. $200 -300 will do)

the five speed is somewhat longer than the four speed but the bell housing is the same (as is most of the rest of the transmission). new parts are available for the vw diesel engines, but you have to know where to look for some of them.

http://www.vwdieselparts.com/ this is a good place to begin, though there are others.

Thanks guys...
Yeah, I checked out the trasher again this weekend.
I tried to turn it over the a rachet..... no go......
I even put a pipe on it.... well, that lower pulley is
tighter now... I had to stop ... thought I would strip
that crank bolt.... well, I didn't stop there.... I wanted
to see what the hold up was.... I pulled off the cam
cover....... lots of rust..... motor was pretty clean inside
but lots of rust... must be seized by the rust.... If the
car was given to me maybe I would mess with it.... the
motor and put it in another better car....like a convertible.
I was talking with someone about gas ---> diesel conversions.
and using a 5 speed out of a gasser.... He claimed that the
gearing in the gasser isn't low enough... that it is better to
use a "diesel transmission"(meaning a tranny that is geared
for the diesel....) It made sense to me.... It this true....
that diesel trannies have to be geared lower.....
BACK TO MY MAIN PROBLEM... being diesel-less.
Yeah, the wife-ee upped my anti on dollars for car puchasing..
I don't really want to spend alot for a car... but, 4k.... is the
limit...... Any insight on what I can expect to buy for 4 grand???
Any preferances you folks have? and why... would be greatly
appreciated.....

thanks, Micky

if you are bent on a diesel vw then look for a pre-2000 tdi (i think '98 thas the first year in the u.s.). maybe the fuel price thing has driven their value up, but about one year ago i looked at a jetta for 2500. i don't know what their inherent problems are but they look a lot more comforntable than an '81 rabbit. i'd put up with whatever plagues them just so i could get a FUNCTIONING a/c and fewer squeaks. by vertue of being a diesel, the engine (if nothing else) is probably going to hold up at least as well as vw's earlier diesels.

Hello,
yes I was out shopping last week.
I picked up a 91 jetta gl diesel.....
It has bout 140,000 k on it.... it
is very clean.... the only rust is
at the battery try... which I will
hit with some rust paint.....
Thanks for all your input....
It is good to know that there are
people out there that will share there
expertise.....
Before I move over to the appropriate
forum.... I wanted to ask two brief questions....
1.) Where is the best online VW parts store???
2.) What about biodiesel? tips, etc. brewing/brewers.

thanks, micky

Thanks..........
How about new vw parts online?
OEM or after market.....