Hi, folks. Noob, here. Just bought a Thunder Ranch 550 Spyder & had a bad idea (my favorite kind):
Can you install a modern VW diesel engine (ala Top Gear's "Project Sipster")? In a 550? Has anyone tried?
I'm aware of the many reasons NOT to do it, but is it POSSIBLE? A 1300 lb car + a motor that pulls 40MPGs in a 3000 lb Jetta has to be good for at least decent gas mileage, right? If a watercooled Sube WRX engine, will work, why not a diesel? Tom @ Thunder Ranch told me it could be done... with a little creativity in the motor mounts/half shafts dept.
I'm no mechanic so I reserve the right to be wrong about everything.
please go into a room full of mirrors, well you know the rest 😂
1954 Beetle
2003 Beetle 2.0
2004 Turbo Beetle 1.8
2007 Touareg tdi (retired)
2009 Pajero Tdi Shorty (retired)
2011 FJ Crusier
1973 P76
Wish list:
Porsche 550
zooey deschanel
anythiing can be done, they drove on the moon didnt they? they throw chevy V8's in the front of beetles, so why not throw a diesel donk in the back of a Porsche?
3 1959 cadillacs
1 musso
2 early notchbacks
2 split kombis
2 split panels
1 split ute
1 low light panel
1 ex-pmg bay
1 country buggy
1 beetle ute
1 14" syncro caravelle
1 16" syncro doka
1 golf cabrio
1 vw camper trailer
2 3meter bombs
You may run into trouble with the height of the engine. Most 550 replicas have a 'flat' engine [mine is a Beck, with a 911T ], so height is not a problem.
Measure the height of the engine that you want, to make sure it will fit.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
