I'm thinking about swapping a 1.9L VW diesel into a S10 4x4 pickup. Has anyone done this swap before? Wanna know if it will have enough power or not. I'm not looking for a powerhouse, just enough power that I'm not struggling to keep up with traffic. Also want to know if I would pass emissions testing after doing this swap.

It should work well I would think. I know people have swapped in the older 1.5L and 1.6L VW's into S-10's and RANGERS and say they will still run on interstate if it's geared right.

It should work you can build up the TDI to pump out the power. I know there is a guy who has a TDI with almost as much power as the LBZ factory in a Jetta. There is a forum out there called Freds TDI Club do a search they are the equivilant to this place but for the TDI....

It should work you can build up the TDI to pump out the power. I know there is a guy who has a TDI with almost as much power as the LBZ factory in a Jetta. There is a forum out there called Freds TDI Club do a search they are the equivilant to this place but for the TDI....

Here.... I'll save the trouble of searching for it.... http://www.tdiclub.com/ :cool:

I would like to see that swap take place.

check out the tdi/samuri conversion websites. i have read of some using t5 trans behind tdi engine. might look for opel websites also, think they used that engine, might just have been same size. should do fine.

I am actually going to try and do a TDI in my 69 bus....

Dude I have the perfect tranny for this. I actually built it to put my ALH into a Jeep Cherokee XJ. It's a Jeep AX15 (R150), with a yota input shaft and yota 22RTE bellhousing. ACME makes an adapter/flywheel to go from that bell and input to the 1.9 TDI. The tranny is the Jeep 23 spline input to go to a drivers drop NP231J (or you going put the 23 spline input in the NP231C the s-10's come with).

I sold the TDI, too many projects, but I still have the bellhousing, tranny, clutch fork, clutch throw bearing, clutch fork pivot, shifter... All forsale...

Subcribed, always wanted to do this.

From what I've read of these engines you should be able to crank them up to 250-300 hp (maxed out i think its been a while since i looked at these) which should be more than enough to scoot that S10 down the road. That would be one cool swap let us know how it goes :)

It should work you can build up the TDI to pump out the power. I know there is a guy who has a TDI with almost as much power as the LBZ factory in a Jetta.
HOLY COW !
Need see ! link ?

HOLY COW !
Need see ! link ?

I was a little hight on the numbers but still pretty awesome for a 4 cyl sedan. http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/0801dp_2002_vw_jetta/index.html

Eh, there are a lot of things in that article that smell...The VNT 17 turbo is nothing special and there are a lot bigger and better ones that people run without seeing that level of HP. Still, throw $5k at one and you can get 190 hp and 375 ft lb. It's definitely enough in that small of a car, IMO. Still won't be fast in the 1/4 (due to 5 speed trans) but it will be a blast to drive.

I put a 1.9 TDI (converted to a manual pump) into a Suzuki Sidekick. Costly little project, $8k, and I had the running Sidekick to begin with. It has PLENTY of power for the sidekick and feels awesome. I'd guess it is making 80 hp and 160 ft lb or so. I see no reason that an ALH TDI couldn't do great in an S10. Keep the electronics and then it's easier to crank out the power.

My Jetta has injectors and a tune (stock turbo, upgraded clutch and exhaust) and it is making 140 HP and 250 ft lb. Plenty quick for me.

I was a little hight on the numbers but still pretty awesome for a 4 cyl sedan. http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/0801dp_2002_vw_jetta/index.html

I gotta call BS on the HP/TQ numbers of that TDI. 318hp should easily have that Jetta into the 13's. Don't get me wrong, I am in no way saying that kind of power is not possible, only that 318hp would make that Jetta a much faster car than high 14's


For comparison, the Chevy cobalt SS does the quarter in 14.2 with 260hp

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/08q4/2009_chevrolet_cobalt_ss_sedan-short_take_road_test


And the mazda 3 does it in 14.1 with 263hp.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q3/2010_mazdaspeed_3-first_drive_review




Both of these cares are FWD just like the Jetta.


I think the TDI conversion would be cool as hell. A 150hp diesel in an S-10 would be a very fun ride with 35mpg to boot!

Yep. Best of both worlds. 4wd thats easy to get parts for and good fuel economy. Just got to find a good cheap truck to start the project. The one I was looking at caught fire.

Yikes! :eek:

The problem with the TDI (in quarter mile terms) is that it's autobox cannot handle elevated power levels. Hell, it can't even handle the stock 90 hp. As a result, anyone who builds this thing up uses 5 or 6 speed manual transmissions. Of course with every shift you have to lift, causing the engine to lose boost. They can make big power numbers, but they are hampered in the quarter because of everyone using manual trans.

The problem with the TDI (in quarter mile terms) is that it's autobox cannot handle elevated power levels. Hell, it can't even handle the stock 90 hp. As a result, anyone who builds this thing up uses 5 or 6 speed manual transmissions. Of course with every shift you have to lift, causing the engine to lose boost. They can make big power numbers, but they are hampered in the quarter because of everyone using manual trans.
That surprises me. I've never seen the automatics fail, have seen acouple 5 speeds break. Even saw a guy online bust 2nd gear in a gas jetta twice.

The problem with the TDI (in quarter mile terms) is that it's autobox cannot handle elevated power levels. Hell, it can't even handle the stock 90 hp. As a result, anyone who builds this thing up uses 5 or 6 speed manual transmissions. Of course with every shift you have to lift, causing the engine to lose boost. They can make big power numbers, but they are hampered in the quarter because of everyone using manual trans.

You mean a 5 or 6spd manual just like the in the Turbo'd Mazda and Cobalt:)

I've also read that the VW autos are pretty weak (at least at handling modded power), but from what I've read on the TDI forums the manual trannys by and large hold up reasonably well with a stout clutch.

I think the Mazda and Cobalt are supercharged...? I dunno...

Just from driving mine, it takes about a second to shift and rebuild boost each time.

I think the Mazda and Cobalt are supercharged...? I dunno...

Just from driving mine, it takes about a second to shift and rebuild boost each time.

Their both Turbo'd check the links. The cobalt was SC'd in years past but it was only rated at 200hp and was much slower.... high 14's just like the Jetta IIRC.

Sorry about the derail.....

thatd be a fun s-10 if you ask me !