Mk1 GLD addiction

[DieselMk1]

Hey guys, I'll make it short and sweet.

I've owned two GLD's over the past year or so, both unfortunately succumbed to defects though (one too low and one for engine smoke) and I should be picking up my third soon

First one:





Second one:





New one:







I got the diesel itch when I bought my first one and none of my friends can understand why hahah. I just love everything about them from the fuel economy to the smell to the way they drive one day I want to go 1.9 turbo diesel but that's way down the track

[gazzmo]

So with a bit of luck you will have 1 roadworthy Mk1 and 2 parts vehicles which could potential become another roadworthy Mk1 bringing the total to 2

[jets]

I have 3 of these vehicles, none currently registered. One is the 1.6 with 5 speed that is used ever day as a farm hack. Purchased as a repairable write off, it's been doing this for around 10 years without protest. Don't scrap any of parts from your other 2 cars as you don't see these anymore at the wreckers or even U-Pullit.

[DieselMk1]

The first defected one was supposed to be our race car here at teamflogmotorsport.blogspot.com but I pinched the engine and used it in the second one so now that's defected that's being used to race. The first GLD is donating every removable bit to my collection and the floor is being cut out and used in a project 1.1 import that another Golf owner here in SA has. Already have three whole spare 1.5D engines for parts, one sat in a shed for a long time, another has been cooked, and the third came from the second GLD and kept blowing welch plugs so I've stripped the shed find engine of everything I can and will be doing the same with the other two and then we will be making two good engines from them as well as having a heap of spare parts

[DieselMk1]

Is the 1.6 a TD?? I'm getting turbo bits from a friend in the US but not so keen on a 1.5+T as it doesn't have the oil squirters

[gldgti]

not so keen on a 1.5+T as it doesn't have the oil squirters

Hey mate, depending on how you drive it and tune it it can be fine. My dad put a turbo on his 1.5D without issues, but he doesnt use it for racing, so to speak.

If you keep the stock injector pump and only run 10-12 psi, you can get away with it no problems.

[DieselMk1]

Hey mate, depending on how you drive it and tune it it can be fine. My dad put a turbo on his 1.5D without issues, but he doesnt use it for racing, so to speak.

If you keep the stock injector pump and only run 10-12 psi, you can get away with it no problems.

Well that's comforting to know is it bolt on and drive or will I need to use dished pistons or something? Or can the head cope with 10-12psi on (so I've heard) 16:1 compression

[gldgti]

You've heard wrong

The compression ratio is 23.5:1. Thats not a typo either.

You don't need to modify anything... bolt on and go. But its never quite that easy, as you will have to sort out an oil feed and drain. For the feed, you can tap the oil filter housing. For the drain, you can weld a threaded bung into the sump, or somesuch.

The engine can handle lots of boost, but without the oil squirters its high temps that will kill it, so for that reason you want to keep hte boost lower and the fuelling close to stock. You will still gain 10-20hp easily with a small turbo and a fair bit more torque, even without modding the injector pump (perhaps an extra 1/4 turn in on the smoke screw would be about right.)

FYI - compression ratios of older VW diesels:

1.5 - 23.5:1
1.6 - 23:1
1.9 - 22.5:1
1.6TD - 23:1
1.9TD - 22.5:1
early 1.9TDI - 19.5:1

[jets]

Is the 1.6 a TD??

No, normally aspirated. It was a LHD import converted to RHD, 1982 model I think.

[DieselMk1]

You've heard wrong

The compression ratio is 23.5:1. Thats not a typo either.

You don't need to modify anything... bolt on and go. But its never quite that easy, as you will have to sort out an oil feed and drain. For the feed, you can tap the oil filter housing. For the drain, you can weld a threaded bung into the sump, or somesuch.

The engine can handle lots of boost, but without the oil squirters its high temps that will kill it, so for that reason you want to keep hte boost lower and the fuelling close to stock. You will still gain 10-20hp easily with a small turbo and a fair bit more torque, even without modding the injector pump (perhaps an extra 1/4 turn in on the smoke screw would be about right.)

FYI - compression ratios of older VW diesels:

1.5 - 23.5:1
1.6 - 23:1
1.9 - 22.5:1
1.6TD - 23:1
1.9TD - 22.5:1
early 1.9TDI - 19.5:1

Holy crap!!!! That's a lot of compression hahah.

Well that's good to know about the bolt on capabilities then as sourcing a turbo with manifold and lines from the US will be a whole lot easier for me than trying to find a wrecked Mk3 diesel

No, normally aspirated. It was a LHD import converted to RHD, 1982 model I think.

That's pretty cool still, one of my mates recently owned a USDM Mk1 cabby that was RHD converted

[gldgti]

Theres a mk3 diesel for sale on here for $500.

[DieselMk1]

Distance is the killer, along with me not having the coin to buy it at this point as I still need to buy the third Golf lol. It good to know some IDI Mk3s came here and not just TDI as i've heard that the TDI swap is much more tedious than the (supposed) bolt in import diesel engines