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Best way to do an engine swap?

Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 6:37 pm
by Neil Davies
Ok, my 1992 B3 estate has finally had enough - the oil buzzer has decided that it would rather be on than off, and I can't keep turning up the stereo... at 165k it's about worn out, but the suspension and brakes are still pretty fresh as I went through them for the MOT, so I don't really want to scrap it.

It's a 1.8 L-model, basic as basic, single point injection. I've just picked up a 1992 mk3 Golf with the same engine but only 110,000 miles, and I think it's the same gearbox too. It's got power steering, which the Passat doesn't have, but I'd like to use that. With the great parts interchangeability that VW have, I was wondering what's the best way to swap motors?

Do I pull the motors out, split them from the gearboxes and use the Golf motor with the Passat gearbox and ancillaries, or can I use the complete engine, gearbox and steering assembly still fixed to the cradle? I'm liking this idea more! Any ideas? Anyone done a similar swap or have experience with Golfs?