Checking the feasibility of a weird swap.
 

Hey guys,

I've got a FB with a dead rotary and I want to toss a different engine into it. I know you can do this with LS1's, and 350's but everyone does that. I want to do something different.

How difficult would it be to take the VW 1.8T engine from the mkIV golf and drop that in? I know in most applications they are transverse and the transmissions just wouldn't fit, but what if I got a longitudinal engine and transmission out of a old audi a3 quattro? Those engines are longitudinal and they have transmissions that would be the correct orientation.

Failing that, how about dropping in a BMW M10?

doesnt quattro=awd? but anyways dont mind that i say do it!! be different. especially if you have the money/time/skills to make it work@!

The A3 is actually a Haldex chassis so the engine is transversely mounted. I'm not sure what if anything about that engine from that car would cause problems running longitudinally, but transverse specific parts like the oil pan won't work well. Your better off using an A4 for a donor.

Also, You might consider using a different transmission as the quattro transmission is long and bulky in a RWD format due to the front diff being mounted between the gearbox and bellhousing. The only way to remove it is a custom bellhousing and a shortened input shaft.

I was always worried about how the AWD configurations would change everything, but I've never seen the undercarriage of an A3 or A4 so I have no idea what the Haldex setup looks like. What transmission do you reccomend?

I'm thinking at this point it might be easier to try to find a BMW M52 and transmission and toss those in instead. At least then I won't have to deal with as many ECU troubles as I would with the 1.8T.

have u ever considered a 1jz/2jz swap or a skyline swap? PM me i can help u out

Once you stray from the beaten path- the V-8 and increasingly, the 1/2 JZ- you're in craftsman territory.
The V-8 swap is so well documented and parts so readily available, the swap is little different than pulling/replacing the stock rotary engine.

Any "different" engine/tranny swap and you'll have to figure it out from step 1 and you'd better be prepared for the whole range of fabrication skills to be called upon.

At that point, "difficult" is an almost meaningless descriptor...your skill level/tooling are the primary concerns.

if that was the case he wouldnt be posting :) lol.

There was a guy a while back that put a 1.9 TDI from a Jetta in his Rx7. It didn't go very fast because Rx7's gearing is low compared to that of a diesel, plus they redline around 4k or lower :D

Anyways, the point is that it can be done, you just have to talk to some guys that do custom swaps and figure out what it'd take to convert the bellhousing and input shaft so it'll mate to the 1.8t. Sounds like fun though, and that engine can make some decent numbers.