PD TDI conversions: more difficult?

trev

have many VW PD TDI conversions been done in the past? Do most people avoid them in favour of more conventional injector pump engines? If so, why? What is it that makes them more difficult?

I'm just trying to gather some information for myself and this seems like a good place to start Happy

splitbusvanatic · Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:21 pm Post subject:

Hi Trev.
Not much different really.
Few things to consider as far as I know.
The fuel tanks in the PD's have in-tank pump.
They're pretty reliant on the electronics.
So you'll need most of the donor car's Wirey bits.
As long as you take plenty of loom,
you will be doing what I and "easy does it" are doing currently.

For me. Loom wise. I have the following still wired as per original car.
Dash clocks.
Ignition barrel (it starts with its original key)
Accelerator Throttle body. (It's a potentiometer)
Ecu
Air flow meter and airbox
So an extra with the PD will be the in tank pump.

If you search for FamilyVan tdi thread on ssvc.co.uk you'll see everything.
Only difference was he tried to find/build a non tdi gearbox to suit.
So it's the old chestnut of having a box capable of handling the low down in the rev range torque delivery of a modern tdi. Along with the unforgiving 'Harmonics' of the same lump.

Hence the recent spate of T3 Conversions with the flipped upside down gearbox.
I'm gone the adaptor plate route.
Few have gone the cut n shut method.
Cut off the Bellhousing off the tdi gearbox. Then TIG weld it back on rotated 180 degrees.

We all know people with Huge mileage PD's.
So they are a good engine.
I can't think why there is an assumption that they are not reliable.
The non pd stuff is gettin old now at this stage. 12/13 years old now.

easy-does-it · Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:15 pm Post subject:

Didn't want to hear that.... tell me it's really hard, in fact, almost impossible ......

..im not going on ssvc....... im not.......

ok, maybe just a peak......
_________________
'76 bay going superfly TDI

trev · Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:48 pm Post subject:

cheers Dan, it was the wiring end of things I was most concerned about, that and all the more elaborate sensors, tandem pumps, fuel coolers, etc etc etc Wink

I have to register on SSVC but as soon as I get approved I'll search out familyvan's project. Thanks for the lead Happy

splitbusvanatic · Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 12:24 am Post subject:

http://www.ssvc.org.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=23027

J1mbopenfold · Wannabe Joined: 31 Jan 2014 Posts: 3

I have a pd150 fully installed and the 6 speed box. If you use the complete wiring then its easy having bits of loom would be a nightmare.

I run the full dash clocks so had to extend the dash loom 5 feet to make it reach.

Good luck!

splitbusvanatic · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 4:41 am Post subject:

Pics or it didn't happen.
Seriously.
I need to see this.

easy-does-it · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 1:36 pm Post subject:

Pretty sure it's penfold off of vzi..
Build thread is in alternative engines, semi mid mount full golf set up.. I'll get the link up when im on the laptop Happy

_________________
'76 bay going superfly TDI

easy-does-it · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 8:59 pm Post subject:

http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=633505

Wink

_________________
'76 bay going superfly TDI

J1mbopenfold · Wannabe Joined: 31 Jan 2014 Posts: 3

Yep that's me..

Bus has been on the road for three years now, constantly updating it.

We did a european tour in it last year around 2500 miles including ebi to begin with.

We drove in one go from nice in France back to bristol at 70mph doing 40mpg in sixth gear.

It's got a standard pd 150 as they are renowned for wearing out.

It's got a full custom van interior with a viking super viking roof on top ( it was originally a Devon moonraker. At bestival last year two of my mates slept in the roof and at bugjam!.

When I look back at all the mods I did it seems ridiculous and I went way too far with some things but its pretty good on a run and is quite usable.

It's pretty quick too if you give it beans and would easily push over 100mph but its still an old bus and is pretty wobbly at speed. I would rather cruise at 65...although on the way back from bugjam with 5 people and all our luggage last year we did 80 all the way down the m4.

Cheers

Jimbo

trev · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:51 pm Post subject:

does anyone know of a PD engine fitted to a bay window bus (late bay preferably) with a flipped Passat/Audi gearbox? If you do, I'd love to see how they got around the extra length of the tandem pump on the gearbox-end of the cylinder head. I have a PD130 sitting in a car out the back and a flipped Passat box ready to be collected so over this winter I'm planning on pulling the 1Y and 6-rib gearbox combo and upgrading both engine and box at the same time. I was really careful not to chop the van about in any way when fitting the 1Y and I'd really like to keep it that way when I fit the PD130.

as you can see, there's minimal clearance between the cylinder head and the tank firewall with the 1Y, the PD has about 3" of pump fitted here Sad