Diesel MK1

[oracle1]

Hi I am from Brisbane's very southern end and tomorrow I am going to look at a MK1 4 door diesel 1.5. that is purported to be in very condition. It is beige in color and apparently was rust proofed from day one and has no corrosion.

THE MISSION STATEMENT : HYPER ECONOMY

I make my own biodiesel and my nissan patrol, my landcruiser ute and my mums turbo diesel mazda 3 2007 6 speed all run varying blends from 5 to 100 %. As such the diesel angle had drawn me to this car, and i was stunned to find an overhead cam timing belt engine in a 1979 diesel vehicle with 50 + mpg?! was the world asleep or were Australians buying red motor commodores and torana's. I have since searched and seen some of the really good bits in the later models fitted to older bodies including the blue mk1 3 door with the 1.9 tdi. I like this idea but 2 parts of the concept put me off,

1. The weight of the 1.9 block must be higher over the front wheels, decreasing handling.


2. Bigger Capacity = more fuel burn


So I trolled to find if anyone had done it 1.5 turbo and found little in the way of forward backward parts exchanges and retrofit information. I did see one guy in orange who had made a custom turbo extraction manifold but it was for a petrol. Absolutely perfect for a diesel as well. What I want to achieve is this and would be very grateful for advice to reach the following combo,

1.5 litre diesel, turbo intercooled, 2 tank biofuel system, 6 speed box.


Before anyone laughs read the mission statement again. Hyper economy, not gobs of horspower, but gobs of torque would be nice. The turbo is about more oxygen for alternative fuels.This car will do a lot of work as a daily runner as I do a lot of highway miles and don't want to run the cruiser (making bio is a pain in this butt). Any info on the engine family and block weights much appreciated. Also is the wheel stud pattern unique to these vehicles as I want to buy some mags

[Jarred]

Hi mate Welcome to the forum! Good luck when checking out the car.

stud pattern is 4x100. Plenty of info around of various offsets you'll need and what not.

a 6 speed is probably possible, but unviable $$$ wise. you can get a 5 speed with a long 5th that'll get the economy right down.

I've only heard bad things about turbo charging 1.5's, and hence I didn't look into it for my own car. I highly doubt the 1.9 block would have that much extra that it would have a drastically negative effect on the handling, but there's only one person who can truly comment on that.

HTH
Jarred

[oracle1]

Aew there other more suitable engines around?

Ive noticed 1.6 etc turbo engines floating around in mk2 and 3 and wondered about conversions. Retaining IDI is absolutely critical for me as I burn biofuels and the IDI is more tolerant. I hear you on the five speed. My mum has a mazda 3 6 speed and 6 is tall, 5th is almost a waste a lot of the time she drops from 6 to 4 and boots it then back into 6. The mk1 should be that light in a tall 5it will be sweet. Is the 4 x 100 stud pattern common to any of the jap cars?. Also wondering about big brakes from later models/ Suspension changes but i will search on that tonight. The most rational way is probably to find a later model turbo engine with all the relevant bits hanging off it. Also wondering if 3 inch system instead of 2.5 is overkill with a mild efficiency based turbo, also harder to make and fit underneath. Thanks crew a friendly forum is great

[Golf Loon]

6 speed gearbox is heavier than a planet, so not suitable for your Mk1.

1.9 is the same basic block as yours and much newer.

1.6TD is the ideal one, but very hard to get as most were driven till they stopped.

You can get the same result with a later model 1.9TDI and a mechanical TD pump. This is what Mollins has in the blue car and he knows all the bits you would need.

Brakes and suspension would come from a GTI or one of its petrol brethren.

I hear you on the 1979 car that had 50mpg and yes you are right, aussies were probably buying redtop toranas and commodores

It was 30 years too soon, Times are a changing now and vw are poised to pick up the pieces with their TDI lineup of new cars.

Welcome to the forum the diesel mob are friendly and knowledgeable.

[oracle1]

I am no longer speculating

I bought the MK1 and I want to post a piccy or 2 but dont know how. Its really neat and thus far I have not discovered any major cancer. The 1.5 is sweet as and runs like a clock and the thing drives like its on rails even with middle age mums butt suspension. The brakes are **** the wipers don't work and the a pillar windows whistle with the window closed, but hey beggars cant be choosers, and yes its VERY economical. I wanna post a piccy but i am a newbie, thanks all this is gunna be fun. The four speed has to go no matter what happens its revving too hard at speed

[16v_kid]

cool dude,

you should maybe post pics in the mk1 section.