There is a guy on you tube detailing tuning 1.8 turbo motors, might be worth a look. Personally I'm diesel all the way but good luck with your conversion

 

Should have said tuning 1.8's in a T4

 

Hi,

I've read quite a few threads around what engine can be fitted but most centre around swapping a 1.9td for a tdi.

odd, thre's a lot of 2.4's swapped for the mk3 golf era 1.9tdi as an upgrade:*
converted a mates van a few years ago & he loves itA:
my '95 t4 was 1.9d from new but I converted it to 1.9tdi around 6 years ago....

*before* you consider a conversion, reserch & reserch some moreT:

5 cylinder & 4 cylinder parts differ, even throttle-cables & coolant hoses

pre & post '96 the t4's differ, engine-mounts were changed so diferent hights for diferent ages. pedalboxes / their bulkhead plates can be important here as in conversions you may need to go 'fly-by-wire' throttle & maybe raid the later t4 partsbin:*

if you want horsepower go petrol, if you want torque go diesel.


anyway.

I'll not mention the 1.9tdi conversion as it's well documented all over the internot & anti-social-medai

easiest to ignore the PD tdi engines as their shape causes issue getting in the t4's enginebay (but should be doo-able if you want to try:* )

if you want to swap from petrol to diesel then it's easiest to have a fuel-tank & lines from a scrapper diesel as this will save a lot of messing (like the petrol tank may have a smaller 'filler' hole compared to a diesel?)


as to to the 1.8/20vT....

the most common 1.8L / 20vT engine is more of mk4 golf era than mk3 (with aluminium sump & engine-mount through cambelt cover - ish), this is not an easy conversion and needs fabrication etc.

there is a less common 20vT engine fitted in B5 Passat & Audi A6 cars that shares a similar cylinderblock to the 4 cylinder engines as found in t4's (with a pressed steel sump), this is a physically easier conversion as an amount of vw's partsbin t4 engine parts can be used like sump & pickup-pipe, dipstick & tube, engine & driveshaft mount and the flywheel & clutch (although a mk3 golf era tdi flywheel is an 'upgrade' as it is the same part as fitted on the 'G60' golf with the larger diameter clutchI: )

then theres the mecanical or 'fly-by-wire' throttle, 3 diferent inlet manifolds (left, right & central throttle) and probably similar turbo's & manifolds :*

wiring needs 'knitting' to mix with the van.


also, theres the mk3 & mk4 golf 1.8L & 2L 8v and 1.8L/16v petrol engines (similar cylinderblocks), if from a mk3 golf era car then again, the 'partsbin' can be used and the wiring is more 'plug&play' (but not exactly).

Sorta...

probably more to add but thats enough for nowT:
Rich.

 

Thanks Hybrid800, I'll keep researching....

I'm looking to stay with petrol I think, so will focus on the 1.8t 20V engine.

Any donor cars I should specifically avoid?

Any other engines I could / should look at before I commit to the 1.8t? Maybe the 2litre gti or an Audi V6?

Thanks,

 

I think you'll need a "Long Nose" to fit the V6.....the reason it was developed by VW.

 

I think you'll need a "Long Nose" to fit the VR6.....the reason it was developed by VW.

the audi v6 is a wide-angle engine, vw had the VR6 as a narrow-angle so used much less spaceI:

I doubt a 'proper' V6 would fit transverse in a t4's enginebay as the bulkhead (& pedalbox would interfere?)

Rich.

 

I'm looking to go the same route after my 1.9td only just passed emissions on its mot
I'm looking at the 2.0 8v from the mk3 golf gti, I've seen mention of a 2e code for this engine is this mechanical injection or electronic, and is the best most straightforward option for the 2.0 8v got donor

 

iirc, all the 2L / 8v engines in B3 & B4 Passats, corrado & mk3 golf were ecu controlled so a reasonably easy fit in a t4 due to the similar 'Ce2' fusebox & wiringT:
if you find a B3 or B4 Passat as donor they have a seperate engine-loom unlike a mk3 golf so no lighting wire removal - easier to fit a t4A:

the petrol engine cylinderblock mods should be same or very similar to the mk3 golf / B4 Passat tdi conversion so well documented

Rich.

 

Hybrid thanks for the reply , the other mods I've read is enlarging the hole sizes for the engine mounts.
But regarding engine type is it the 2e engine code that I should be looking for and any of the 2.0litre engines from that era I should avoid.