I have not had much spare time lately and therefore I had little time to
attend to the list and my conversion ideas. I will be putting out a new TDI
newsletter shortly. It will go to all of you who have emailed me and
expressed interest in the TDI (Turbo Diesel Direct Injection).

The problems with the TDI are cost and availability. They run between
Can$3000 and Can$3500 for a used engine. Then you need the electrical cables
the accelerator poti, engine mounts, exhaust etc.

The North American VW-family conversion choices seem to be quite clear:

If you want economy go for the 1.9L VW Turbodiesel with 75 HP. Add an
intercooler and you can get a little over 80 HP. Used and new TD engines are
available. 

If you want more power, torque and fuel economy, then it  has to be the TDI.

With all TD engines there is a potential fuel tank/starter conflict in
Syncros, since the engine is usually mounted on a slant using Diesel Vanagon
parts.

Another interesting conversion is the 2.0L Audi engine done by David
Marshall. It also seems a fairly economical way to get more power.

I am not sure about the GTI conversion, because of the weight of the van. I
am looking for power from the bottom up and the GTI engine certainly does
not have the torque at lower revs.

For good information on conversions check out Tom's pages:
http://www.relitech.com/tomc/tomvw.htm

I will keep loooking for the ideal TDI engine to come my way. A local
wrecker recently said he will get "factory seconds" in about a week or so.
He indicated that it would be a brandnew transmission and engine with a
tagged flaw. I had never heard of that. Has anyone else?

Bj�rn

Bj�rn Ratjen

Mill Bay, B.C. 

1987 Syncro Est Alia (self camperized)
1995 Passat TD
(1982 Vanagon Diesel)
1979 VW Bus (self- camperized)