HPA VW TDI Swap Kit Now Available for YJ

[jingram]

I got this in my mailbox today. Looks like they have finalized stage 1. I was hoping the "kit" would come in a bit cheaper. Anyway, thought I would pass it on. Not affiliated with HPA at all.

HPA VW TDI into YJ Swap Kit (http://www.hpamotorsport.com/TDI-YJ-AX5.htm)

[Root Moose]

Quality of the parts appears excellent. Certainly much nicer than the Keltec kit for the Samurai back in the day.

[Douglas S.]

Love the idea, but hate using parts I can't get at Napa.

[jingram]

Yeah, I love the idea too... my biggest issue is cost. A newer TDI motor is NOT going to be cheap and while they mention the immobilizer bypass, no other talk about integrating into the electronics on the Jeep, although with the YJ, I can't imagine it being that bad. I know they are debuting at SEMA, so will be interesting to see what comes out of this. HPA is very big in the VW/Audi Tuner Scene and do have a good reputation.

[carcrafter22]

Very nice looking kit but you can swap in a much more robust (and heavier) as well as more powerful isuzu 4bd1t or cummins 4bt for that price (not including the cost of engine or transmission) and thats for the whole conversion not just a set of motor mounts, flywheel, trans adapter and downpipe.

Like I said very nice kit and probably worth every penny since its not cheap to make quality like that but you can build better a better foundation for much cheaper.

[jeepdreamer]

Since the power and more importantly the economy of these engines is well documented I like this as a swap option. And since these models are ALL OVER Europe and able to be imported to the US no hassle...it lends for some other buy in options. Sure its not cheap...nothing good ever is. And since I have a YJ project on the way back burner already...who knows? Right now its a toss up between this, or a cummins 3.3 or 4bt...and maybe a couple others...ugh...

[ntsqd]

There is a lot to be said for power density, especially when it comes in a known to be durable package.

[lamontagne]

But no options for an automatic trans?

If it were, I would be VERY seriously looking at this kit.

[jeepdreamer]

But no options for an automatic trans?

If it were, I would be VERY seriously looking at this kit.

A manual will usually net more/better MPG returns IMHO. Plus its usually more durable, less length, and less expensive as an average. Not saying autos don't have their place...I think this with a manual 5 or 6sp is the hot ticket though.
BTW, what is a YJ unlimited?? Are you using the wood stretcher on a jeep? I'd love to see pics if your making the YJ longer via a frame swap or stretch.

[alosix]

Very nice looking kit but you can swap in a much more robust (and heavier) as well as more powerful isuzu 4bd1t or cummins 4bt for that price (not including the cost of engine or transmission) and thats for the whole conversion not just a set of motor mounts, flywheel, trans adapter and downpipe.

Like I said very nice kit and probably worth every penny since its not cheap to make quality like that but you can build better a better foundation for much cheaper.

There is no way you could do a 4bt in a jeep for what that costs, sorry, not happening. Finding a decent used 4bt under 2k is hard considering how many people like to attempt swaps with it.

Its also VERY heavy require much more extensive modification of the Jeep. Its also taller requiring a good bit of lift.

This setup would let you throw it in a stock YJ at stock height with the stock D30 under it and stock leafs.

Iv'e been researching getting a oil burner into my TJ since I bought it new, the 4bt really isn't a viable option.


I would think.. Since they have this figured out for the 4 cycle bell housing that a TF904 would bolt up to it. The only issue at that point would be finding a proper torque converter (though the VW TDIs are fairly gas engine like in power band) and getting a flex plate figured out. I'd want something with overdrive in it though.

[jeepdreamer]

Or maybe you could run one of the VW autos from a RWD (passat? something??) and just run a divorced T-case...

[jingram]

From what I read on another site... VW's auto transmissions are a real bugger to get working right in a non VW car. Sounds like they have a system bus sort of like CAN Bus and it causes real issues with integration?

A love the thought of this project if you could source a TDI motor at reasonable price. If, however, you end up into this project 8-10k with motor, then simply not worth it. You simply do not have the payload capacity in a YJ to make it a great overlanding vehicle. Sure, great in tight places and for shorts trips, but it really starts to suffer in longer scenarios or those that involve more than two people.

That all being said, talk of mileage in the low 30s to low 40s gets me really excited!

[lamontagne]

BTW, what is a YJ unlimited?? Are you using the wood stretcher on a jeep? I'd love to see pics if your making the YJ longer via a frame swap or stretch

I used a Binford 2600 Jeep stretcher! (LOL, actually just search for YJ unlimited and you will find the build thread. It is currently on hold while I get a new house though.)


I would think.. Since they have this figured out for the 4 cycle bell housing that a TF904 would bolt up to it. The only issue at that point would be finding a proper torque converter (though the VW TDIs are fairly gas engine like in power band) and getting a flex plate figured out. I'd want something with overdrive in it though.

I have an AW-4 (3-speed + overdrive) trans and bellhousing from a 4-banger jeep ready to go! I also have a TF904 (more specifically a 30RH) just in case I dont want to mess with the electronics of the AW-4.

[Beowulf]

So it looks like they are going to be bringing this to the TJ platform as well. I want to know how they are going to get this engine working with the TJ computer.

[purdueXJ]

Their website isn't working for me.

[jingram]

Website seems to be working fine for me.

[tip]

As a longtime VW tech, I am really excited about this kit to come out. (Not like I could afford it or anything :)) The TDI's are bulletproof and so simple to work on.

I've seen some real clean swaps in Samurai's, and heard of a couple into Toyota's. But a Jeep... :drool:

[purdueXJ]

Website seems to be working fine for me.

Weird, I can't get it to work on IE or firefox, and I really want to check this out lol.

[jingram]

Odd, I just tested the link again from a fresh work laptop. Are you behind a proxy or something that could be blocking content?

[Beowulf]

How much does one of these VW motors cost?

[Douglas S.]

I wish they would have used the ax-15 instead of the ax-5.

[tip]

How much does one of these VW motors cost?

I've seen used ones go from $2000 - $5000+. It doesn't help that they are a hot swap for other VW's as well.

[mcneil]

Local place here in LA is selling engines for $2500 with ~100-200k on them. A friend and I pulled apart an ALH with 230k on it, and you could still see the honing hatch marks in the cylinders.

I want to find a whole front cut, since I think this would work best with the VW cluster and column.

I stuck a Golf instrument cluster in front of my TJ cluster, and the Golf's is smaller. Maybe it could just fit in place of the TJ cluster with a small fascia plate.

[Scoob]

I'm actually really liking this idea. I might have to start looking for a YJ to start a little project.

[troy]

I'm currently in the process of an 1.6TD engine in another project, very similar to the swaps they are doing in Suzuki samurais, so I've read a lot on the VW engines.

Some other options those interested may want to consider is that ACME adapters has adapters that mount a toyota trans to the VW engines. You'd likely have to use a divorced transfer case and short/length the driveshafts, but this is pretty small considering you're already doing an engine swap.

http://www.acmeadapters.com/

Also there is a guy that does a mechanical pump for the TDI engines. If you do a search on "Mechanical TDI pump" tons of links will come up. I think this would be the hot ticket for an expo vehicle. Most of the power of the 1.9LTDI, but much more simplistic. Much less of a headache than converting the wiring to run in a non-VW vehicle. If you choose to keep the engine computer controlled, it would be a very good idea to buy the complete wiring harness and maybe the dash too, that is until someone comes out with a stand alone management system.

Just some thoughts.

[Metcalf]

You can use the acme adapter from VW to toyota, then use the toyota bellhousing and input from the early 5spd trucks on/in the ax5 transmission. They are basically the same thing.

Or you could bolt in the toy transmission to the jeep with the toyota crawler box and a toy to D300 adapter. AA and OTT both make those. Then flip the D300 for the YJ. Overall length would be workable with the 4cyl engine for sure.

A lot of the same therory can be carried over to the AX15 which is very similar to the toy 6cyl and turbo transmissions.

[alosix]

You can use the acme adapter from VW to toyota, then use the toyota bellhousing and input from the early 5spd trucks on/in the ax5 transmission. They are basically the same thing.

Or you could bolt in the toy transmission to the jeep with the toyota crawler box and a toy to D300 adapter. AA and OTT both make those. Then flip the D300 for the YJ. Overall length would be workable with the 4cyl engine for sure.

A lot of the same therory can be carried over to the AX15 which is very similar to the toy 6cyl and turbo transmissions.

Hmmm,...

How you have me wondering if I can't find a AW4 bell housing that will match the yota pattern they are working with for my TJ.. hmm...

[mcneil]

TDIclub forums have a couple threads about VW TDi conversions into (this list is not exclusive.. just the ones I've seen)

Jeep Liberty
Jeep CJ
Toyota pickup
Westfalia campervans
Vanagon
Tacoma
4Runner
Saturn SL1 (???)

The write ups are pretty good, and the tdiclub guys are usually pretty thorough.
Also, there's a thread on Pirate about all the different combinations of AX4/AX-15/W56 trans/bellhousing/input shafts you could every want to mosh together. The Aisin (jeep & toyota) transmissions share a lot of common parts and patterns.
If you're willing to rebuilt the transmission with a new input shaft, you can mate an AX15 to just about anything. AX4 looks a little harder..

[Metcalf]

There was a little weirdness in toyota automatics, since the 4cyl 22r/re pattern automatic was a little rare, but I do seem to remember is was related to the AW4 and could share parts.

AW4 control can be done with a full control aftermarket computer now also.

Flexplate might be the biggest challenge.