VW TDI Conversion Into a Classic Beetle (2024)

Is it possible to adapt a VW TDI into a classic beetle? If so who makes an adapter plate? Any information on this would be very helpful.

TimK

That would be the conversion to end all conversions. It would be exceptionally cool, but immensely difficult and expensive. There is no conversion challenge that can't be solved with an infusion of sufficient ducats, so I guess it just depends on how deep your pockets are.

-mickey

p.s. You might also have to be on the lookout for guys with white coats and giant butterfly nets.

There *was* a rear-engine VW chassis available with a diesel engine: the Transporter / Vanagon was available with the non-turbo diesel in the early eighties. That might be the source of some bits and pieces. You'd have to use the rear-engine VW transmission and final drive with the engine sitting lengthwise, for sure. I seem to recall that the engine was lying on its side in that vehicle, in order to give a lower cargo floor.

Adapting a bell-housing and flywheel isn't as bad a chore as adapting a whole driveline. I've heard of TDI engines being transplanted into Vanagons although I'm not sure if anyone has actually finished what they started, to the point of having a complete vehicle that runs.

Having said that, I'm pretty sure that the TDI's 4 cylinders in line are longer than the Bug's flat-4, so it won't fit in the engine compartment. The Vanagon (and the Type 2, Type 3, or Type 4) has a longer rear overhang than the Bug - more space for a longer engine.

It would be a novel concept, though!

Brian P.
'96 Passat TDI

Kennedy Engineering sells a conversion kit to put just about any engine onto a beetle tranny. It just takes a flywheel with the outside teeth to match the starter and a clutch with the same inside spline as the input shaft to the trans. They also supply an adapter to mate the engine up the the trans physically. You would of course have to convert your beetle to a baja because the TDI would hang out the rear more than a flat four. The Vanagon had more room out the back for the old inline four and in fact, I've seen many VW van conversions utilizing inline fours from various manufacturers with the radiator fitting into the space above the aircooled trans with an electric fan.

Yes it could be done with a Baja or Van.

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Jack from Anaheim
'70 Convertible VW Bug.
'00 Silver NB TDI Auto.

Jack,

Thank you for the helpful information. Could you please email or post the address for Kennedy Engineering? You can reach me at kuhlrover@aol.com.

TimK

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jackmc:
Kennedy Engineering sells a conversion kit to put just about any engine onto a beetle tranny. It just takes a flywheel with the outside teeth to match the starter and a clutch with the same inside spline as the input shaft to the trans. They also supply an adapter to mate the engine up the the trans physically. You would of course have to convert your beetle to a baja because the TDI would hang out the rear more than a flat four. The Vanagon had more room out the back for the old inline four and in fact, I've seen many VW van conversions utilizing inline fours from various manufacturers with the radiator fitting into the space above the aircooled trans with an electric fan.

Yes it could be done with a Baja or Van.

Beetle trannies can be beefed up to handle just about anything. There is a ton of aftermarket performance stuff out there. A TDI is pretty torquey, but people have done small block V8 conversions with those things! (With major body alterations, obviously.)

-mickey

You're talking about a major feat of retroengineering there, but anything's possible I suppose...

I can all but guarantee you that this is uncharted territory-- but just think, you'd have a Beetle with almost double the MPG of the orginal and it would probably be twice as fast too, due the lightweight chassis.

A novel idea, but defintitely a very serious and costly project.

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Ryan

1999 New Jetta GL TDI

Volkswagen TDI & Apple Macintosh

Keep it real.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ThinkDiesel:
I can all but guarantee you that this is uncharted territory-- but just think, you'd have a Beetle with almost double the MPG of the orginal and it would probably be twice as fast too, due the lightweight chassis.

A novel idea, but defintitely a very serious and costly project.

It wouldn't be considered that costly. The kits are around $500 and a typical engine buildup to get the same torque and horsepower would cost $3-4 grand on a VW aircooled engine and would not be reliable beyond 100K.

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Jack from Anaheim
'70 Convertible VW Bug.
'00 Silver NB TDI Auto.

http://www.kennedyeng.com/

Check out the above link for VW adapters. I went to Alta Vista and typed in a search on VW engine adapters and read an article where a guy was putting a rotary engine ahead of the rear wheels on a bug and used an adapter kit to do it. That would be one way of using the TDI in a beetle without having it hang out the rear end. I wonder what direction the TDI turns looking at the flywheel? A regular aircooled VW turns CCW if you're looking from the front (which is the flywheel side for you non aircooled guys)

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Jack from Anaheim
'70 Convertible VW Bug.
'00 Silver NB TDI Auto.

After re-reading the post about the wiring harness required I think I should also say that there is already a kit that completely converts an aircooled bug engine to electronic fuel injection complete with computer and sensors.

Also, I think that this would be the way to make a TDI old style van. You could replace the rear engine lid with the radiator just like they do in Mexico with the "new" VW vans they still make with the inline watercooled four.

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Jack from Anaheim
'70 Convertible VW Bug.
'00 Silver NB TDI Auto.