so what are some good ideas as to what to use a VW 1.6 diesel for?

an old beetle maybe (75mpg?)

 

I put a Perkins in an old ranger. Wouldn't go over 55, didn't ever need to take my foot off the floor to shift, but it did get 38 MPG.

 

yeah, i have seen a couple of old diesel rangers running around but I am really looking for something that could at least keep up with traffic.

my brother in law just suggested an MG midget or old datsun 2000

 

It is mated to a transaxle, yes? That sort of simplifys things, doesn't it? Funny, I was going to suggest a Falcon and then noticed you had one in your sig.

 

Hm I wonder how big that 1.6 is? Wonder if you could put in a riding mower? or a go-kart?

 

i actually considered my falcon, but i like my little 6.

the 1.6 is like fiesta small, weight is about 350 pounds, and yeah its connected to a 4 speed transaxle

i kinda thought about finding a medium sized tractor to put it in.

or i could find a jeep frame with axles and mount it in the middle sideways, build a rockcrawler!

 

maybe a early falcon ranchero...

 

A old Mazda/Courier?.......about the right size. Problem is finding one thats still usable........most have been long since recycled into Budweiser cans.

 

How about another VW? Didn't they make small car-sized pickups?

 

thats what its out of, im just trying to think of something that would be a bit more exciting

 

Too much truck, too little engine. I'm putting a Mercedes OM617 turbodiesel into mine, it makes about three times the HP of the VW engine.

They make adapter kits to put that engine into Suzuki Samauris, but the 1.9TDI engine is more popular for that.
I know of one guy who uses one to power a backup generator.

 

at only 90 or so cubic inches, i don't think that engine will do much in any of our cars, even a falcon. the smallest engine ever offered in a falcon was the 144 six cylinder, and they were not an engine you want in your car if you have to pull out into rolling traffic.

i would look for a riding mower chassis and make a racer out of it.

 

Yes, my 84 B2000 Mazda was the most anemic thing I have ever driven, that little 2000cc mazda could barely pull it around with a 5spd.......It made my 2.8 V6 Ranger seem musclebound and powerful...........Yeah probably too much truck for the little diesel.

 

I dunno. A guy up in canada put a 1.6L VW diesel and 5 speed into a dodge caravan about 10 years ago. When the van rusted out, he swapped it into a newer one. He claims it can get over 40 MPG. I'd believe it, since my old VW station wagon got close to 40 MPG regularly from the 1.5L diesel & 4 speed. Prolly would have got far better, but I drove the heck outta it......
Youtube search for davidsfarm + diesel van.

 

Diesel powered Meyers Manx?

Old VW bug body tub and new fiberglass outer body. Nice dune buggy, anyway. Don't know of the Manx purists would go for it, though.

-blaine