Converting classic car to diesel?

Tigger

niallerrity wrote: »

I wouldn't know I've never had a Diesel before.....

I don't really care much for the Diesel vs petrol argument.

Also I didn't really post this to get peoples personal opinions on what car and what you should or shouldn't do. Somebody's car is a personal thing, if you want to waist your money on a V8 when you can only drive 60 i'm not going to complain, I'd rather have a car I consider nice which the convenience of a Diesel engine.

That's my opinion and I'm not going to respond to any more stupid comments. I actually don't give a F**k what you think is right or wrong.

Anybody else ever done this or know a company?

Thanks

problem is thisthread don't belong in classics it belongs in regular motors

i'd love a 70's style beamer with a 3.5l twin turbo modern diesel,box diff suspension airbags and all the trimmings

but it would not be a classic

kev1.3s

Let the op do as he pleases its his money and if the fruits of his labour ever come onto the market no one here is going to be forced to buy it. Lets face it if the op is concerned about money he's not going to buy a charger and drop in a diesel and if it's a silver spirit he's after they aren't exactly scarce now are there? There's more butchered wedding cars and Arthur Daley versions of those going around that I don't think we should sleep over another.
Weather the op is a troll or not doesn't change the fact that he'd be well within his rights to with his property as he pleases!

bbsrs

[/QUOTE]

problem is thisthread don't belong in classics it belongs in regular motors

i'd love a 70's style beamer with a 3.5l twin turbo modern diesel,box diff suspension airbags and all the trimmings

but it would not be a classic[/Quote]

Whether or not it's a classic depends on whoever is looking at it , if someone installs a modern M3 engine in a classic BMW does it cease to be a classic , a lot of E30 M3 guys would say no and I'd agree . Likewise if it has a diesel engine doesn't change the fact that it's an old classic car.
In the eyes of the classic insurers and motor tax office it's still a classic .

kev1.3s

There is no body rite or wrong, we could argue about it till we're blue in the face and still nobody would be rite.

Basil Fawlty

Well your definitely wrong because thats not how you spell "right" !

kev1.3s

ciarancapri wrote: »

Well your definitely wrong because thats not how you spell "right" !

Good point indeed.

rotorhead

:D:D

cotton

MCMLXXV wrote: »

I do see that Caddy around Dun Laoghaire quite a bit lately Ray!

Meeting other half for lunch John!

Tigger

bbsrs wrote: »

problem is thisthread don't belong in classics it belongs in regular motors

i'd love a 70's style beamer with a 3.5l twin turbo modern diesel,box diff suspension airbags and all the trimmings

but it would not be a classic[/Quote]

Whether or not it's a classic depends on whoever is looking at it , if someone installs a modern M3 engine in a classic BMW does it cease to be a classic , a lot of E30 M3 guys would say no and I'd agree . Likewise if it has a diesel engine doesn't change the fact that it's an old classic car.
In the eyes of the classic insurers and motor tax office it's still a classic .[/QUOTE]


an e30 with a m3 engine is a beautiful merging of classic design and modern engineering, it is not a classic tho.should there be a retro subforum ? on biker.ie there is a sub forum for classics and for streetfighters

a classic bike (i have one ) gets in with original and era correct parts

a streetfighter (i have one ) gets in with a blend of parts that the owner fins attractive in my case this means modersn paints and ngineering on a stripped down classic frame and look

both get classic insurance

i really really want a well put together capri with a granada cossie engine and an x pack kit and i'd insure it and tax it as a classic but i'd wouldn't call it one

john reilly

have converted a few cars to diesel years ago. the easiest thing would be manual backwheel drive. get a pre 96- 97 engine from a van. would be nice in a old jag or volvo

Pdfile

Tigger wrote: »

problem is thisthread don't belong in classics it belongs in regular motors

i'd love a 70's style beamer with a 3.5l twin turbo modern diesel,box diff suspension airbags and all the trimmings

but it would not be a classic

Whether or not it's a classic depends on whoever is looking at it , if someone installs a modern M3 engine in a classic BMW does it cease to be a classic , a lot of E30 M3 guys would say no and I'd agree . Likewise if it has a diesel engine doesn't change the fact that it's an old classic car.
In the eyes of the classic insurers and motor tax office it's still a classic .[/QUOTE]


an e30 with a m3 engine is a beautiful merging of classic design and modern engineering, it is not a classic tho.should there be a retro subforum ? on biker.ie there is a sub forum for classics and for streetfighters

a classic bike (i have one ) gets in with original and era correct parts

a streetfighter (i have one ) gets in with a blend of parts that the owner fins attractive in my case this means modersn paints and ngineering on a stripped down classic frame and look

both get classic insurance

i really really want a well put together capri with a granada cossie engine and an x pack kit and i'd insure it and tax it as a classic but i'd wouldn't call it one[/QUOTE]


yes i agree, but generally speaking... engines & parts should be a like for like upgrade IMHO.... i.e... Early e30 touring which had a gutless 1.6i getting a more modern 2 or greater liter dieesel.... everyone wins !


taking a rare ( these days ) e30 3 door, removing the say 1.8 petrol for a 2.0 diesel... its not really worth the time and effort, not only for the savings would be minimal fuel wise...



aren't Classics supposed to be enjoyed... screw the cost ?

kev1.3s

There are company's out there that specialize in upgrading Jaguars and the like by putting in modern suspension brakes even engines, Aston Martin have an arm specially set up to modernize there cars also.
What would the purists make of someone who gets an Etype that has been completely modernized under the skin?
Or the Jensen Interceptor R which is rebuilt with a corvette engine and I presume be a totally different driving experience than the original, is that still not a classic?

Tigger

kev1.3s wrote: »

There are company's out there that specialize in upgrading Jaguars and the like by putting in modern suspension brakes even engines, Aston Martin have an arm specially set up to modernize there cars also.
What would the purists make of someone who gets an Etype that has been completely modernized under the skin?
Or the Jensen Interceptor R which is rebuilt with a corvette engine and I presume be a totally different driving experience than the original, is that still not a classic?

no but its a really cool retro car

as a driving machine its better as a piece of automotive history its worse

i love taking my 77 bimmer out and pushing it to its modest historical limits
it can give a smile at 65mph on a twisty road that my mondeo st would need 100mph (allegedley) to get the same "on the edge feel"

i love retro rides i buy the irish retro mag retro classics

bbsrs

Tigger wrote: »

kev1.3s wrote: »

There are company's out there that specialize in upgrading Jaguars and the like by putting in modern suspension brakes even engines, Aston Martin have an arm specially set up to modernize there cars also.
What would the purists make of someone who gets an Etype that has been completely modernized under the skin?
Or the Jensen Interceptor R which is rebuilt with a corvette engine and I presume be a totally different driving experience than the original, is that still not a classic?

no but its a really cool retro car

as a driving machine its better as a piece of automotive history its worse

i love taking my 77 bimmer out and pushing it to its modest historical limits
it can give a smile at 65mph on a twisty road that my mondeo st would need 100mph (allegedley) to get the same "on the edge feel"

i love retro rides i buy the irish retro mag retro classics

Why do you say retro is the term used when talking about modified classics , I think by definition of retro that any car over 20ish years old modified or not could be called retro it's about the look not the mechanicals.

kev1.3s

Well if by definition a modified classic is considered retro so therefore a " dodge charger " with a Nissan patrol diesel engine is a retro ride then too?

bbsrs

kev1.3s wrote: »

Well if by definition a modified classic is considered retro so therefore a " dodge charger " with a Nissan patrol diesel engine is a retro ride then too?

And a unmodified charger is also a retro ride .

KM88

Daved_XB wrote: »

If you didn't want opinions then why post on an Internet forum?

This is what the OP actually said:

Daved_XB wrote: »

There are lots of nice classic cars going cheap now because they are not economical and there's a few I'd love to have but couldn't run so I'd be interested in knowing if it's feasible to convert it to a newer engine or is it just too big and difficult a job?

Nowhere did he ask for anybody's opinion of such a conversion. Seems like a fair and interesting question to me.

Just saying. :cool:

Capri

It IS just too big and difficult a job - cut your coat according to .......

Classic - driven at weekends? - 100miles clocked up ? - difference in fuel used v's petrol =1 gallon@€7/gal - cost of conversion €2k? - 2k devided by 7= 286 weekends = 6 years to 'recover' saving :eek: ????

owendave

bbsrs wrote: »

The guy just asked if anybody knows where he can get a conversion carried out , its his money and his property he can do as he wishes with it. I personally think its a good route to take , yes a beautiful large engine is beautiful to listen to but if you're not in a position to spend close on 1 euro per mile on petrol why not convert to diesel when you could regularly use your car . A nice BMW 3.0 turbo would be a good engine to use.

Take a look at our website www.permanent-solutions.co.uk

Let us know what you think.
Regards Dave
This site is purely for interest
P.S
She is built to drive like she's 'been nicked' as we say! she is not a trailer
queen for show! but does look mint! unbelievable performance and handling! and as you say tax free and £220 to insure!! economy 'Who gives a S***' but got to be 40+! She is 840kg lighter than a E46 330d! frighteningly fast, drifts wonderfully and gets starred at everywhere! A serious adrenaline rush! And she hasn't been remapped yet!!!


Contact number now added website www.permanent-solutions.co.uk plus your help needed!! this is not a business purely for interest!!!

Bigus

owendave wrote: »

Take a look at our website www.permanent-solutions.co.uk

Let us know what you think.
Regards Dave
This site is purely for interest
P.S
She is built to drive like she's 'been nicked' as we say! she is not a trailer
queen for show! but does look mint! unbelievable performance and handling! and as you say tax free and £220 to insure!! economy 'Who gives a S***' but got to be 40+! She is 840kg lighter than a E46 330d! frighteningly fast, drifts wonderfully and gets starred at everywhere! A serious adrenaline rush! And she hasn't been remapped yet!!!


Contact number now added website www.permanent-solutions.co.uk plus your help needed!! this is not a business purely for interest!!!

I can't wait to see the YouTube video owendave, great job, did you sort of sit the cortina body on the BMW running gear brakes and suspension? It's the kind of job that's on my to do list , with something pre 79.

Stovepipe

Hi all,
Lots of VW campers out there with every possible variation on the VW flat four, as well as older conversions of Beetles with Alfasud engines and current ones with water-cooled Subaru EA81/82s( in Bays and Vanagons) and now the Subaru flat four diesel is attracting the attention of the VW crowd. Even the Golf/Jetta inline four diesel has gone into VW buses (T2 and T25, even before the T4 came out). I also remember seeing a BMW 2002 with a modern BMW diesel in it. I like the whole creative/evolutionary side of conversions.

regards
Stovepipe

w124man

Stovepipe wrote: »

Even the Golf/Jetta inline four diesel has gone into VW buses

Oddly enough VW put the Golf/Jetta inline four diesel into VW T25 in 1981 and kept doing it all the way up to September 1992 !!

101sean

My father had a T25 camper with a Nissan diesel in it, guy near Birr used to fit them. Not the greatest of conversions though! He unfortunately sold it and bought a Renault Trafic, worst pile of crap ever with a gearbox made of toffee :mad:

I think modifying a classic to make it more useable is fine and a properly engineered conversion can be interesting but just bodging a diesel in to get cheap road tax, I'm not so sure.

Stovepipe

@w124man, I know they did the Golf engine in the T25 but amateur converters were replacing the VW flat-four petrol engine in the T2 (mostly with petrol engines, it has to be said) and in the T25, before the T25 went to diesel. There are several professional Subaru installers out there, who will either fit a Scooby to your Bug/Bay/T25 or will make up a full kit for you.......A friend of mine also had a BMW 520 with a Nissan Crown's diesel in it. BMW purists hated it!

regards
Stovepipe