Body/Engine Transplant

[Brom]

So the normal thing to do would be put a later model engine in your mark 1. But i'm guessing this is just the reverse. At some stage i want to drop my mk1 diesel in another body without many/any modification. So i'm just asking what choices i have. Whether it be later golfs, other VWs or Seat's.

[gldgti]

i'm not sure how easy it is to put an older engine in a newer car - there may be legalities.

from a technical perpective, its easy. your mk1 diesel only requires a couple of wires..... what is more of a problem is the fact that a n/a mk1 diesel engine isnt very powerful and all the later cars are heavier... so i would think you might have some issues there.... unless you want ot put a supercharger on it.

i'd go for a mk3 or a SEAT. you would be able to swap all the engine mounts over from the "old" engine to the "new engine and just drop it in....

[Brom]

Hmmm, thanks for the advice.
Does anyone know the legalities of putting an older engine in a new car?

I was thinking a late mk1 cabrio or mk3. I've had a quick look online at salvage auctions and there seem to be a few out there with little or no damage. Perhaps there petrol engines are dead, or on fire etc.

So if i was to do this, would it be a stright swap of just the engine and gearbox and fuel filters etc, or do drive shafts, suspension, fuel tank etc need to be swaped too? I'm sure someone would have done this in the past.

[Jarred]

fuel take probably needs swapping. as does anything that's associated with the fuel/diesel system. suspension can remain, although the diesel mk 1's may have had beefier A arms than the petrol models, although I dont know for sure.

would be better to use the diesel gearbox, as it's got better ratios, the driveshafts and suspensions should be fine though. should bolt into all the sam mounts though.

[Oneofthegreats]

I can definately say that in Vic. You can't fit an older engine into a newer model car legally. I'm not saying you can't do it, but legally an engineer will not approve this.

The engine has to be of the same year or newer.

Also diesel's did get beefier suspension, bigger ball joint's etc, which ended up all later model's also had also.

[Golf Loon]

The Mk1 engine is a bit old and weak.

You could probably put it in a SEAT Ibiza 1.4, they are pretty light and it would bolt in using the Mk3 mounts.

Dunno about tank and lines.

The legalities of a real old motor in a newer car are another matter.

If you got a Mk3 and put in a TDI engine code that was sold in Oz, you dont need engineering. Still a lot of work tho.

[Brom]

Yesterday i received an email response from the RTA clarifying the legalities of putting and older engine in a later body. Turns out I can do it, but the vehicle must then pass a emmissions test to the standards of when the body was built. And then aan engineers certificate issued.
Whereas i understand if i put it in a body of the same age or older i don't need any tests or cert's. just need to tell the RTA the new details. So i'm not sure what to do yet. i wan't to clarify that i would still need a test if i was to use a later mk1 chassis. ie an early '90's cabrio.
My rust really isnt bad at all though. i'm just being fussy and can't be bothered painting it.

[aprr32]

I put a Golf 1 1500 dsl into an American import 1985 Golf 1 cab for a customer and the ACT RTA didn't say a thing at the inspection pit.They didn't even want an engineers certificate, just passed it and it is registered and driving!