550 Spyder (1300 lbs) + TDI diesel

[nathanabbott]

Lot of bright folks on these forums. *Doesn't surprise me.

Here are my project notes, so far...

DIESEL SPIDER PROJECT
=================
goal: 100 MPG
=================

=====Engines=====
Rabbit diesel
1.6L from Quantum
1.8L*
2.0L 140HP TDI from '04-'05 Passa
Subaru boxer diesel (import)
VW Lupo 1.3L *(import)
Merc Smart Diesel (?)

=====Transaxles=====
5spd Passat FWD
From whatever car the engine is from

=====Radiators=====
motorcycle*
Griffin alum.
Scirocco

550 FORUM NOTES
=================

====TDIclub=====
MoT1, Pat Dolan, etc.
Yup, I'm running now with dual Honda rads in front of the front wheels, and it cools fine. I did a month-long, 8600 mile coast to coast trip in February this year.

RE: Kennedy Eng. -- Keep in mind that they offer the option of the 50 degree slant mounting as used in the Vanagon. You would need some Vanagon engine bits (oil pan, etc.) to make it work, but it would keep the engine low. That would work with either a swing or IRS Bug gearbox.

Another way to go full IRS would be with a VW water cooled gearbox. Transverse engine with a Rabbit/Golf/Jetta driveline (any series), or Quantum/Audi/Passat driveline for an in-line layout. More fab-work for sure, but the advantage to this would be 5 speed boxes and diesel-friendly ratios.

====Ecomodder=====
MoTheDiesel, basjoos
converted a 316 to 1.6L TDI from a Quantum. Used motorcycle radiators behind headlights.

====Samba=====
didget69, hstrecht65, BL3Manx
Rabbit diesel would fit Beetle transaxle with least trouble. *Need to fab exhaust & stash radiator somewhere.

[arcosine]

The spider is small enough for a two cylinder diesel. I am sure you can get 100 mpg at 30 mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAr39...eature=related

[Frank Lee]

Get a good drivetrain in there and I think 100mpg at 55 mph is possible.

[nathanabbott]

UPDATE: thx for all the advice, guys. My spyder seller in AZ (T.Surdez) decided not to honor our (signed) bill of sale, so, for now, I'm looking for another 550 Spyder rolling chassis. In the meantime, I suppose I'll buy a few geo metros & goof around with those. I'll keep you all posted as soon as I find another budget Spyder.
~Nathan

[some_other_dave]

Bummer. I love the Spyders, and it would have been cool to see one getting good MPG.

BTW, I think the Jetta uses a longitudinal FWD layout, so you might be able to swap the whole drivetrain in place of the ACVW one. If you're looking for older less computer-controlled stuff, older Audis (the 5000 for example) were longitudinal FWD as well.

The 914 transmission is already set up the correct way, of course, but I don't know offhand of any diesels that bolt right up to it. But you never know...

-soD

[nathanabbott]

Gonna nab a few geo metros this weekend. I wonder if a kubota 3cyl diesel will fit in those things
;-)

[foolthrottle]

I'm interested in building a diesel 550, adapters for the flipped ring gear trans axle are available, my thought was to use a complete engine and trans from a vw diesel and tranverse mount it to the 550 axle shafts. What is your progress ? any pictures?

[nathanabbott]

@foolthrot... I got stiffed on the 550 spyder (seller reneged), so i bought a McLaren can-am replica; Manta Montage... from a niclear engineer. Also boight a 2003 NooBeetle TDI. I'm in Kansas City, now, coordinating the details. I got bored, so i made a movie about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuZaz...e_gdata_player

Comic book & action figures, coming soon.

[arcosine]

Its alot like a Bradley GT. I hope you use the TDI transmission on not the air cooled transaxle.

[nathanabbott]

Originally Posted by arcosine

Its alot like a Bradley GT. I hope you use the TDI transmission on not the air cooled transaxle.

It's a Manta body with a custom frame/chassis. The axel is orvette, modded to fit a porsche 914 manual trans. The nuke engineer included 2 914 transmissions, so I was planning to use one of fhose & a Kennedy Engineering adaptor. Will that work or do you suggest a better solution?