Classic Diesel Conversion

L37fc

Hi i am thinking about buying a classic car pre 1980 to avoid nct.Merc,BMW or Jag & getting a diesel conversion done to it.To use as a every day car i have a 4x4 as my every day car & i am a named driver on my parents car.I am thinking about buying a doner car to swap the engine gearbox & wiring.What i want to know is how modern a doner car can i buy for the swap considering ecu & airbags in morden car's.:rolleyes:

Max_Damage

Get yourself a Mercedes W123 diesel. They go forever, easy to work on, and relativity cheap to buy.

dutchcat

why do you want to avoid the nct? and what has being a named driver got to do with it?

si_guru

You don't want to look after a car to the bare minimum standards of an NCT. Yet you feel able to swap a diesel engine into a car that was petrol for which the engine was never designed.... good luck!

mustang68

So you want to buy two cars, a classic car and a modern car, gut both, transfer engine, loom, gearbox and safety systems to the classic in order to avoid the NCT!!!???

You're talking about a massive project for someone who really knows what they're doing, like really big. If you do happen to get a car where there is a direct swap (like a mustang), there are modifications you need to make to the fuel tank, return lines, electrical system, cooling etc. and that is just for a direct swap motor, gearboxs will require structural modifications to the underside of the car, new flywheels, shifters, linkages, drive shafts the list is very long. Forget about airbags.

You'll spend the cost of a single NCT on sets of gloves you'll use during the project.

L37fc

Ok to answer your question about nct if i get a post 1980's car & converter it the nct will be testing it for lower emission being a modern engine compaired to a vintage engine.

L37fc

I have already found a company that will do the engine swap.they supply engine & gearbox.To answer about why do it is 48euro versus 1500 euro a year on a 3liter engine.

mikesmerc

I would just go away and buy a pre 1980s 123 series Merc 300diesel, not the fastest or most economical but very useable and in my mind one of the best built.
Mike

corktina

I dont think you'll get much symapthy on a CLASSIC CAR forum seeing as your intention is to ruin a classic by butchering it to fit a diesel

Incidently, do you know you wont be able to get Classic Insurance on it without a main Policy and car of your own....? Even if you did qualify, I doubt they would cover you on a modified car.

L37fc

IF the car would never see the inside of a nct center Whos to know what mods are done . anyhow if you are not increasing horse power there should not be a issue.If you are only looking at fuel economy & reducing horse power.200bhp to 100bph