1988 LX 'Red'

[Christ]

Well, I spent my last $400 on a TDi Passat [B4 - 1996] with 299860 miles on it, and started working full time again, as well as planning and excavating to build a house hopefully this summer coming, so the Festiva is sitting around on hold for now.

I've been doing some thinking here, and in the interest of ease and using the proper parts to do a swap /the right way/, I'm going to bolt the original transmission back onto the IDI and drop it all under the hood that way, but use some custom-built axles for the swap instead of mucking about with adapter plates and custom flywheels. The shift assembly on the OE transmission is gonna get changed out to the O2J cable-type shifter from MK4 Jetta and similar vehicles, so Ill just have to mount a shifter box in the car, which makes life easier for me because I'll have the ability to alter shifter height, throw, and stiffness/firmness by changing parts around from what's readily available.

For now, I'm going to focus on fixing up the TDi and enjoying it, though. I'll be gathering parts to continue this swap sometime next year [2014] and hope to have it finished [driveable] and inspected by then.

[bhazard]

ANY TDI for $400 is a crazy steal...wow

[Advancedynamix]

Good plan! Also, rather than using custom axles, you may try running mk3 VW spindles with custom control arms. The VW spindles give you better brakes, better wheel bearings and the 5 lug option. You can get shorter axles from a big axle mk1 like a 16v scirocco or late Cabriolet.

[Christ]

I thought about this because I have a blown '97 VR6 Jetta sitting in my recycling yard [Parts are available from it if anyone needs them]... I was thinking about modding the front and rear hubs to work with the Festiva at some point... for the time being, I really just want to get the engine installed and have it set up so a layman could do it without heavily modifying the car or changing $2,000 worth of parts unnecessarily.

I already have a plan to use the VW hubs that I discussed in other threads elsewhere, using the stock control arms. It's really not all that hard, just requires some adapter pieces and a drill. The fits are so close already that it's /almost/ a drop in affair to use MK2 std hubs.

The only reason I've kept the Jetta so long is because the 5 spd trans and clutch etc parts will fit on the VR6 Passat wagon I'm getting frmo the same guy for $500 as soon as I have the cash to go get it, and I'm considering building myself a VR-T Passat wagon.

[Christ]

ANY TDI for $400 is a crazy steal...wow

Yeah... wish I could find those deals more often. I'd have a whole stable of TDi's.

Back when I had my Golf D, I got it for about $300 all said and done. IT wouldn't run because there was a pinhole in the sending unit plastic line nipple. Put hot glue on it, never had a problem again lol. I took the car off the road because of the amount of rust and the total of repairs it needed... almost wish I hadn't taken it all apart.

[Christ]

Anyone have a clue if the K member from a Mk3 Jetta GLX is the same as one from, say, an MK2 Golf D?

[bravekozak]

Why not install a Genuine Ford engine? What about a 1 litre ECO BOOST?

[Christ]

Cost effectiveness, availability, etc... Plus, this is a setup that literally nearly everyone can do, and the engine will run on... well... whatever's in that jug over there.

Try /that/ with a 1 liter ECOboost engine and see where it gets you.

Fuel economy doesn't make much difference when you're able to run waste products. Proximity to gas/fuel stations, power outages, etc... none matter. We live here in the country, all of these things happen on the regular, and fuel prices aren't going anywhere but /up/.

Also, I have plenty of the parts I'd need to do the swap, they're all VERY easy to get ahold of for anyone that would want to do this, or a similar swap [VR6 comes to mind], and the engines can be had cheap... like cheaper than fixing a Festiva engine in some cases.

[Christ]

Guess, weather permitting, I'm gonna start stripping the front end off tomorrow and maybe mocking up the crossmember. Pics obviously will be taken.

[Spike]

Lots, I hope.

[Christ]

I didn't get a chance to do anything this weekend. The weather did permit, but my 'Fix me' schedule, however, did not.

[Christ]

This car is for sale. I have all the parts [few exceptions] to return it completely to stock [nothing has been modified yet] or I can sell the swap kit [what I have thus far] to complete the VW swap as well.

I have a title for this car, as well as the carb, intake, and original engine/trans. It has a 4x100 swap on the rear, original front end.

I'm looking to get this out of my yard quickly, as I haven't been working since June [broke my leg and got fired for taking leave], and Christmas is coming as well as my newest son in March.

Asking $500 OBO with title and original parts.