Engine swap for Euro road trip

[donkeychomp]

Sure it'll be heavier, and you'll need to beef up the front suspension and brakes...but if someone offered me that engine it'll be straight into the Vit lol.

As for the power...I have no idea what bhp the zook V6 puts out, but I worked on a Mondeo 2.5 V6 last week and took it out for a test drive...damn that thing was fast and a Mondeo weighs a LOT more than a SJ!

[Anton]

I have no idea what bhp the zook V6 puts out, but I worked on a Mondeo 2.5 V6 last week and took it out for a test drive...damn that thing was fast and a Mondeo weighs a LOT more than a SJ!

The people I've spoken to who've put heavy engines in SJ's have told me that it behaves ok on the road, but the moment they go offroad in it, they really regret putting a heavy engine in there.

I think the J20 (or J24) would be the heaviest engine I'd be willing to fit. Nearly as much power as the V6, but shouldn't ruin the handling offroad. I hope.

But I'm seriously leaning towards the VW TDI. Been talking to a guy ("tuneko" on facebook) who made a Lupo 3L into a Lupo 2.1L (he turned a 94mpg car into a 135mpg car). This guy tuned the engine from 59hp/101ft/lb to nearly 120hp/200ft/lb.

He's building a new eco car with the newer VW 1.2 TDI, and he's using this ECU:

http://www.nira.se/NIRA_i7r.pdf

Anyone know anything about nira? Or this ECU? Or any other "custom" diesel ECU's? Or about disabling the immobiliser circuit on a standard VW ECU? I'd like to start moving forward with the project. I have an engine I'd like to buy, but I want to know I can get a working ECU for it first!

[donkeychomp]

If you really love diesels then I think your best bet is buy a diesel car.

Keep the 'lil SJ and just plonk a Vit engine in it. Seems the easiest and most popular mod to me.

[ScottieJ]

I do have to ask....how much money do you want to plow into this project? Starting to sound very expensive, even a j20a conversion isn't cheap, there's a lot involved.

Are the fuel savings really going outweigh the cost of the conversion if going with a modern derv engine as well, remember you could run into issues mating it to a rwd transmission as well, do these vw dervs use a dual mass flywheel? Again that could cause some issues.

[Anton]

If you really love diesels then I think your best bet is buy a diesel car.

I've got a Yaris D4-d daily driver already, but I would really love a diesel SJ...

I do have to ask....how much money do you want to plow into this project? Starting to sound very expensive, even a j20a conversion isn't cheap, there's a lot involved.

Are the fuel savings really going outweigh the cost of the conversion if going with a modern derv engine as well, remember you could run into issues mating it to a rwd transmission as well, do these vw dervs use a dual mass flywheel? Again that could cause some issues.

How much I save on fuel does depend on how much I drive it, and if I go to the bother of making a shed load of biodiesel.

Even if I buy veg oil at cash and carry prices to make diesel, I can halve the cost of my fuel and drive across Europe and back for £200 instead of £850. I can probably cut it even further if I get used veg oil.

Still, I know that this project might cost me £2k. Yes, it's a crazy chunk of change - but it's an engine that has done less than 10k - it's basically brand new. Most of my vehicle has been reconditioned except for the tcase, gearbox and steering box, so I'm confident that it'll last a good few years.

Maybe I'm being crazy? The M15a is still an option, but the diesel just ticks so many boxes for me - lightweight, even lighter than a G13, torquey as hell, frugal, will run biodiesel...

[Rhinoman]

I don't know anything about the NIRA ECU but I design ECUs for diesel engines so I have some knowledge of whats required from one. That ECU doesn't look cheap and it'll probably take you a long time to get it tuned properly, budget maybe £500 for an initial dyno tune.

[Anton]

I'm better off with the stock ECU then, even if I need the dash, key, ignition barrel, loom, accelerator pedal etc from the same car.

Ho-hum, I knew this wouldn't be easy...

[Rhinoman]

I'm better off with the stock ECU then, even if I need the dash, key, ignition barrel, loom, accelerator pedal etc from the same car.

Yes.

[Anton]

Do you know much about knobbling the immobiliser circuit? I know it's a ridiculously long shot kind of question, but if you don't ask...

[timwilks13]

I can halve the cost of my fuel and drive across Europe and back for £200 instead of £850.

Whats going on with your maths anton