no reason, but can a TDI be converted to RWD?

No specific reason in mind.....

But can a modern VW/Audi TDI engine be attached easily to a rwd manual tranny?

If you have the ability to machine a bellhousing adapter, sure.

The Passat (A4) TDi engine sits North - South so there would be no water pump / accessory drive issues, The wiring harness is pretty simple, but the computer will freak out one the CAN-BUS returns an incomplete circuit.

I say look into a Miata 6 speed and build an adapter.

Or try to move the transaxle to the rear like the porsche 944, or just use the porsche parts and get an adapter from kennedy adapters. Hey, wait. That might actually work...

Search www.locostusa.com I think it has been done.

Adapters for suzuki and toyota transmissions.

http://www.acmeadapters.com/index.php

cghstang wrote: Adapters for suzuki and toyota transmissions. http://www.acmeadapters.com/index.php

Yes they can in toyota trucks and suzukis, All the time.

The question we should ask is, do you have a welder?

The question we should ask is, do you have a welder?

Yep... Stick, Wire, and Gas :)

Grtechguy wrote: The question we should ask is, do you have a welder? Yep... Stick, Wire, and Gas :)

Then the answer is.. YES!

Bolting it in shoudlnt be hard, getting all of the wiring right, the drive by wire throttle, etc will be more complicated.

Been done. http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=212459

http://www.cs.yale.edu/homes/jag/vw/engine/tdiswap/tdiswap.html

http://www.toyotadiesel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186

Geez I want to do one.

I think that a Locost with the TDI would be sweet. Horsepower levels near the original, with double the torque!

mistanfo wrote: I think that a Locost with the TDI would be sweet. Horsepower levels near the original, with double the torque!

And likely much more weight!

Personally for a locost, I would want a suzuki swift twincam bolted to a samurai trans mission.

I, too, have thought a first gen 4Runner with a TDI would be cool...but parts prices for the TDIs are just ridiculous. For the price of a TDI with all the bits and pieces needed for a swap, you can do an LSx based engine swap and have a touch less mileage and way more fun potential. A pre-TDI VW diesel running on veggie oil would be cool, but a bit gutless and noisy for my tastes.

Bryce

Yep... these have been around... makes the most sense to the TDI fanatics... and you can get a pretty good amount of power out of a TDI for a reasonably amount of money... I know a ugy who is in the planning stages of a TDI swap into a Fiero... Not his, personally (customer/club memeber car), but considering he owns a German car repair shop and recently completed a VR6 Fiero swap, a TDI swap shouldn't be difficult for him. Through the VR6 swap, he has already figured out much of the ECU compatibility issues.

I'm guessing the hold up has been the cost... as Bryce mentioned... used/wrecked TDI's aren't cheap... whereas running MkIV VR6 cars comparitively grow on trees...

I think a locost with the TDI would make a great commuter car.. imagine the fun AND miliage?

If you own a TDI, you may think differently... I know I do...

well, can the TDI be tweaked as much as say..... a Cummins or a Powerstroke?

Yes*

The gains are not as high unless you are comparing % vs stock improvement.

A 5.9L making 400hp and 1200ft lb versus a 1.9L making 250hp and 500ft lb in modified form you can see the TDi is making more out of the fuel it is consuming.

Grtechguy wrote: well, can the TDI be tweaked as much as say..... a Cummins or a Powerstroke?

does a bear poop in the woods?

Where is the link to the new beetle with 400+ ft-lb of torque

John Brown wrote: Yes* The gains are not as high unless you are comparing % vs stock improvement. A 5.9L making 400hp and 1200ft lb versus a 1.9L making 250hp and 500ft lb in modified form you can see the TDi is making more out of the fuel it is consuming.

to make 1200 ftlb of torque a 5.9 would be pushing 600+ horse power.

ignorant wrote:

Grtechguy wrote: well, can the TDI be tweaked as much as say..... a Cummins or a Powerstroke?

does a bear poop in the woods? Where is the link to the new beetle with 400+ ft-lb of torque

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/your-mileage-may-vary/