TheSamba.com :: View topic - Using an ALH TDI engine without all the electronics

Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:05 pm

So I've got an 83 1.6NA vanagon, and I do want to upgrade the engine one way or another. The cheapest I suspect would be to just turbo the engine that I've got in there now, which seems solid as a rock. I've also considered getting an AAZ 1.9 TD, which would not be cheap, but sounds like it would be a good upgrade. I also have a rusty 2001 TDI Golf, which runs great, but I may not be able to keep the body together without a lot of rust repair in the next couple of years. I most definitely don't want to go through all of the gyrations of swapping all of the electronics from the golf into the van. Not only because of the effort, but I just really like the simplicity and repairability of an all mechanical engine. Can you put an early injector pump and other ancillaries on an ALH? I bet you can't, but would love to learn that I'm wrong on that. Thanks for any insight on this.

Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:12 pm

I honestly have no idea as I haven't delved into the diesel stuff.....yet...but when I was lookin for a TDI starter for my 2.5 suby conversion I was pointed to www.tdiclub.com, a very useful resource.

Tue Dec 24, 2013 5:13 pm

I know less than nothing about diesels, but this guy seems to be a real guru, especially on the all mechanical side of things.

http://www.syncro-bernd-jaeger.de/ENGLISH/index.html

good luck

Tue Dec 24, 2013 6:57 pm

http://www.fastforward.ca/harness_retrofit_service_vanagon.html

their harness might be an option?

Tue Dec 24, 2013 7:38 pm

bugeye72 wrote: So I've got an 83 1.6NA vanagon, and I do want to upgrade the engine one way or another.

Karl Mullendore is your man...
http://www.westyventures.com/conversions.html

Tue Dec 24, 2013 10:20 pm

Andrew has been very helpful with my my mTDI build questions. He's a good guy

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=560178&highlight=alh

Wed Dec 25, 2013 7:14 am

The Land Rover 200TDI or 300TDI mechanical pumps are 99% bolt-on and work very well. My mTDI ALH has be excellent.

Wed Dec 25, 2013 7:28 am

Maybe not what you want to hear but. Your rusty golf might be able to be fixed on rust warranty. . VW has a 12 year warranty that's really awesome . I've got an 03 wagon that's had new fenders,driver's door and rear hatch all changed free of charge . I am not the original owner . Your car is an 01, so it is probably past warranty but it all depends on delivery date . If it was delivered in 02 it could still have coverage .

Otherwise , good luck with your project I've got a 1.6na westy I'm swapping to a mk3 Ahu Tdi with mechanical pump .

Wed Dec 25, 2013 11:19 am

I would also add that the ALH does *not* bolt into a vanagon using the stock diesel vanagon mounting bits because the oil pan bolt pattern and oil pump are different. Because of this, either custom engine mounts or custom oil pan are needed which makes it a fair amount larger of a project than installing a 1.6TD, 1.9TD (AAZ) or 1Z/AHU 1.9TDI in an '83 diesel vanagon. The 1Z or AHU can also be run with a mechanical TDI injection pump. The only performance advantage with the ALH over the 1Z or AHU is the VNT turbo which will not work without the electronics or an alternative vane control.

Wed Dec 25, 2013 3:21 pm

Andrew A. Libby wrote: I would also add that the ALH does *not* bolt into a vanagon using the stock diesel vanagon mounting bits because the oil pan bolt pattern and oil pump are different. Because of this, either custom engine mounts or custom oil pan are needed which makes it a fair amount larger of a project than installing a 1.6TD, 1.9TD (AAZ) or 1Z/AHU 1.9TDI in an '83 diesel vanagon. The 1Z or AHU can also be run with a mechanical TDI injection pump. The only performance advantage with the ALH over the 1Z or AHU is the VNT turbo which will not work without the electronics or an alternative vane control.

That was the info I was looking for. Thanks to you and everyone else who chimed in. I've got plenty of time to figure this out, as my Vanagon is frozen in, and I won't be able to get it out until the end of March by the looks of things.