1.6l diesel to a 1.6l gas swap help

[THE TRUE FASTGTI]

i got my self a 1983 rabbit that use to be a diesel. when i got the car it was a rolling shell. i al ready aquired a 1.6l gas motor for a caddy i was working on but decided to go this way instead. i am just wondering if there is any information out there on this. i have searched vortex and other forums but just can not seem to find any answers. this is going to be my first swap so i really have no experences with this. the motor is already in and i just need to know how to run the engine wiring harness. or what else i need to do. Or will the wiring harness for the diesel motor work for the gas motor if i swap out the ECU?

any help would be appricaced. this is the only thing that is keeping me from getting the rabbit up and running.


Jeff

[THE TRUE FASTGTI]

Bump!

DU SCHAUST WIE EIN AUTO, NUR NICHT SO SCHNELL!!!!

[THE TRUE FASTGTI]

Bump

DU SCHAUST WIE EIN AUTO, NUR NICHT SO SCHNELL!!!!

[THE TRUE FASTGTI]

Bump

DU SCHAUST WIE EIN AUTO, NUR NICHT SO SCHNELL!!!!

[Weston S]

So the way I take it, you are making a diesel into a gas? You are in for a world of trouble. I swapped a gas for a diesel into my cabriolet. (much much easier) The hardest part of my job was the wiring harnes. Hands down no matter what you are swapping you are best off to take the matching wiring harness with that motor and use it. It's much easier to keep the electrical componenets running through the same fuse box that is for that motor. Everything is different and you would have to be an electrical engineer to make a diesel harness work on a gas motor. There are too many differences in the configuration of relays, ignition control, pullution control, and most importantly the fuel system. Simple example; how are you going to power up the fuel pump for a gas motor with a diesel harness when there is no fuel pump in a diesel but rather a mechanical injection pump that runs off the timing belt. You would have to wire in your own relay system on key power to pressureize the fuel system. Its not worth the headach in many ways. The worst part of swapping the harness; you might have to cut a bigger hole or join two of the holes in the fire wall to feed it through. Trust me. Much simpler solution

Second step. You need some basic electrical knowledge. How relays work, definitions of current, voltage, amps, ohms, you need a manual possibly Hanes or an equivilent. DO NOT tackle this job without knowing your stuff. Why? Most likely your dash controls are not the same in the diesel as they are in the gas. You need to know where your relays are and double back on key power or auxillary with a tester to make sure each switch is functioning appropriatley. This is where you are going to have to splice in certain dash controls. Such as rear defog, heater control, any switches on your dash. If you don't know your stuff and have a top notch soldering kit, you are in for a world of hurt and one big rats nest in your dash.

Third, and I keep this one separate because its the most important. There should be three harness clips that attach to your stearing wheel. One from the ignition that powers up your fuse box, one for the left hand controls and one for the right hand controlls on your steering shaft. You have 2 options. Take the whole steering system right from the wheel to the rack and swapp it to have the one that matches that motor. If thats not possible or you don't want to do that then check to see if the colour coding is the same for the wires between both harnesses. Most likely it won't be and dually the configuation of where they match will also not be the same. And this I gaurantee. If you choose to not use the matching steering system take the clips from the harness of the steering system that does not match and splice each one into the new harness. and BEHOLD....... You have a functioning igntion, wiper and signal relay system. Do not be fooled if the clips are exactly the same. I will reiterate. The colour coding and wiring configuration must match otherwise your will get it all wired up and find you your sending power to no wire

4th, the fuel air mixture. Its one hilarious piece of engineering under that hood. You are on your own hear. I only had the luxuriny of taking it apart. I will say, try and transplant as much of it as possible without taking it apart. Don't get it dirty and tighten everything to factory specifications.

In short take the wiring harness that matches that motor, splice the dash controls or use the matching dash, use the matching odomoter, match the proper steering system to that motor or splice the clips appropriatley and remember, key power is only power interruption not the source of all control; but rather sensors and relays. The first step to understanding your electrical harness is to centralize your view of the system from the battery and that Key power simply signals relays to open battery power to the necessary functions of the vehicle. This concept is IMPERATIVE... to success and completion. Your key power is not the centerpiece of the electical system, simpley a doorway to activation.

I do have one final piece of advice. If you use the gas tank from the diesel you will have to do substantial modifications. Use the original gas tank and with any luck it will bolt right in or at worst the only modification would be how you bolt it in. Make sure you tank is totally clean or you will clog your pump.

Front end parts and rear end parts should be completely interchangeable, I think anyone with mechanical experiece would have no troubles.

Let me know if that helps or if you have any questions