80 TDi engine

[Squirts]

I've bought my second B4, couldn't resist with 10 month's t&t and a lowish mileage. But it has a big end, I think, gone quite badly - to the point I would be dubious about fitting new bearings without having the crankshaft out. Unless people have found you can 'get away' with this - although surely such a failure is rare-ish?

Anyway, who's hiding a sweet engine? I'm guessing the one from my old Golf would be a pain to make fit and work? Could even be interested in a complete car.

The one with the 'new' box in is going fine, though needing discs and pads and a set of dampers. Are the KYB ones ok, or should I find the extra cash for Bilsteins?

[Doctle Odd]

Has the Golf got a 1Z engine? If so it is BOBO. You could fit an AHU engine takes a bit of work tho

[zollaf]

firstly , kyb actually make most dampers for most cars. i run the ultra sr, their top end ones for sports cars, on my 80, with standard springs. it makes it handle like its on rails but they are a bit firm and expensive. you cn't go wrong with them though.
regards the crank, never known one go myself. must have ran out of oil or never been changed. i wouldn't like to say what would fit or not, but i would pull it apart first to asses the damage. any metal taken off the crank will render it useless without a grind, but it might just need new shells . take the worn on apart, and another to compare it against. there are always a few 1z engines about. i have a spare one myself but i doubt i will ever need it. quite a long way from yorkshire though. incidentally, the heads crack between the valves. i know mine is because it was found when it was skimmed 20k miles ago, but runs just fine. my spare engine is the same and thats only done 180k miles. great cars, they really are.

[Squirts]

Thanks for the replies, chaps. BOBO? Looked it up and couldn't find a definition which makes sense in this context...

Is your 1Z from an 80, zollaf? I have a feeling there's more work than I have time for, making one from a crosswise install fit. Does anyone know exactly what the problems are, other than swapping manifolds and tickling the ECU if necessary? I could do with the car back on the road asap.

[Doctle Odd]

BOBO = bolt off bolt on. Changing one engine for the same engine code is straightforward. The mounts may be different but the holes in the block are the same. You may have to change the clutch but it's good practice to fit a new clutch when an engine is removed. Your own ECU will work fine as will your manifolds and exhaust. You could do it in a day easily enough, you need a hoist