Engine swap for Euro road trip

[Anton]

Heya, peoples.

I want to pull a caravan with my SJ across Europe, so extra fuel economy would also be a massive bonus. I may even (budget allowing) fit an "endurance" fuel tank so I can cruise for hundreds of miles without needing to refuel.

Fuel is likely to be about £838 (probably £1000+ with caravan in tow) with the current engine. I think I can cut that to about £384 (£494 inc caravan) with a diesel engine, whilst making the caravan actually do-able (not a chance with the 1.3, lets face it!).

So yeah, I'm looking at a grand for the engine and everything, but if I can save £500 in fuel on one trip, and I may be doing that trip every summer for the next few years, it makes the diesel suddenly make sense. *LOTS* of sense!

I'm eyeing up a 1.2TDI engine that's done less than 10k for my SJ. I know people shove 1.6/1.9 VW TDI's into SJ's, but I'm not interested in one of those heavy beasts - the 1.2 is an all alloy 3 cylinder and weighs in at 75kg inc turbo and intercooler.

So it shouldn't bugger up the SJ's offroad capabilities. It's actually marginally lighter than the G13 in there now!

Upsides - It's got 120ft/lb torque and 70hp. The cars they put 'em in get 80mpg (some do 92 on a 50mph cruise). Should give me 45mpg or more instead of 20 with the G13. Have seen the older generation of these engines tuned to 200ft/lb and 120hp.

Downsides - I'd need to get the dash computer, key, ignition barrel, loom, ECU and engine from the same car and shoe-horn all that into my SJ. No-one's done one before. Not sure if I can mate it to an SJ gearbox, or if I'd need an Audi gearbox. The 1.6/1.9 isn't the easiest swap (but then, nor was Ladaman's M15a swap!).

The plan I'm considering is: Buy a second SJ gearbox, buy the engine/loom/ecu etc and build a working setup on an engine stand, then drop the lot into my SJ in one weekend (yeah, right!).

I haven't given up on the idea of an M15a, J20a (or even a J24a) so before you tell me to go that way instead, I'm considering options here. I like the idea of being the only 1.2TDI SJ owner - I like the idea of diesel as diesel suits my driving style more than petrol. I love torque low down.

Thoughts?

[twiss]

http://hackaday.com/2012/07/10/building ... iesel-ecu/

[Anton]

That's cool, but it seems it only works with IDI diesels, not common rail TDI's, which is what I'm looking at...

[twiss]

Looking into it a bit more I think it would be quite difficult to get all the bits for it..
Did you say you have found just the engine by itself?
Looking at prices for Polos with that engine in them, as 1.2TD Lupos seem pretty hard to find!
None on Autotrader or ebay...
I think getting all the other bits would be pot luck if you could find a whole car at a scrappy

[Jordi]

Or you could just sling a tent in the back. The SJ on has a 1t towing capacity anyway, that's not much of a caravan.

[twiss]

Or.... best of both worlds get a trailer tent

Also where in Europe are you planning on going? I did amsterdam on about £60 in fuel each way... and that was 300 miles... at 70mph pretty much the whole way (you know what im like )

I could have made it cheaper by taking extra fuel with me, but I had to refill in Belgium

You should get 4200+ miles out of £850 in fuel!!!

[Anton]

My SJ does about 20mpg, and that'll go down to about 15mpg with the caravan on the back, so £850 (admittedly at UK fuel prices) will get me the 1350 miles to Romania and back.

I want to drive to Switzerland, then onwards to Romania.

I have a rather brilliant little 3 berth ABI Adventurer caravan waiting to get some use, it's a 650kg little wonder.

It's got a max laden weight of 850kg, which is lower than the SJ's unladen weight, so I can legally drag it with my licence.

I would take a tent, but I won't be alone and the caravan is necessary because one of issues with disabilities. Osteoporosis and tents don't mix well!

[andyrew]

Lwb more space and better ride.

Vitara engine 16 or 8v

Decent ATs maybe 235 75 15?

Well planned camper conversion or roof tent.

Sorted.

Think the sj is just too light to comfortably tow a caravan.

[twiss]

Well once you get into Austria fuel prices should drop to around 1.35 euros a litre (about £1.09)

See your point though, mine does quite a bit better than 20mpg at a normal cruising speed!
This is where my 2.1TD LWB idea would be excellent, PLENTY of power for towing, bit more stable towing as well being LWB, heavier should make it better for towing
and for driving across long distance, off road handling isn't such an issue, wouldn't exactly be going to pay and play sites on the way
...but saying that I wouldn't want my only SJ to be diesel

[andyrew]

Using a more road biased tyre will help with mpg
Massively.