Build TDI-J70 - LJ70 TDI Swap (Erika)

[DirtSniffer]

I don't think we're going to run into anything too gnarly. So not the worst decision.
I'm still rooting for you though. (I'm also scared I'm going to have to backtrack 400 miles to rescue you....)

But that's what makes trips memorable, suffering and near death experiences! (Of others)

 

[Old Nick]

Was a bit of a tard yesterday and not thinking clearly and over-ran the 1/8 npt tap, which is of course tapered and so my egt sensor fitting would not tighten before bottoming out. Tried grinding down some of the manifold to get down to the slightly more narrow threads, but wasn't enough. Ended up saying F it and welded the bottom part of the probe compression fitting to the manifold.

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I was wondering why every time I cranked it over, oil kept dropping off the engine. As it turns out, it helps to tighten down BOTH oil feed line fittings.

Engine oil is filled, trans is filled, tcase is filled, power steering is filled and flushed out the pump a bit. Will flush out all the old green coolant from the heater cores next as the green stuff doesn't play nice with the pink euro coolant, and fill up the rad. Then it's just charge pipes and it'll be ready to test fire.

Wheels came this morning, so dropped them off for tires. I went down a very deep tire rabbit hole the night I had to order tires. Originally was looking at the milestar patagonias, but got a bit turned off from potential sidewall weakness and rapid wear on the street. I wanted better tread life, and landed on the Kenda Klever R/Ts. Waiting on lug nuts to mount, but I'm liking it so far...

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And now the latest issue. I am just about to the point of being able to test for this thing, but need to disable the ECU immobilizer. I dropped it off at a local tuner Monday who thought they could do it along with some other basic stuff like EGR delete, '03 hot start fix, swap related deletes, etc. And they got all that done, except they are struggling with the immobilizer disable. They are waiting on a tool that should hopefully arrive tomorrow, but if that doesn't work it needs to get shipped in. I have a post on the MN chat thread on the TDI forum, someone may come to my rescue yet but if this thing isn't running this weekend, I don't think it's making on the Wyoming trip.

I bought all of my wiring from this guy... 2000 - 2003 VW 1.9L TDI ALH immobilizer delete service for ecu p/n: 03 - https://d-cparts.com/products/2000-2003-vw-1-9l-tdi-alh-immobilizer-delete-service-for-ecu-p-n-038906012

He sells ECUs with the immobilizer delete service for $75. If you hit the wall with getting your de-immobilized, he can hook you up.

 

[DirtSniffer]

I bought all of my wiring from this guy... 2000 - 2003 VW 1.9L TDI ALH immobilizer delete service for ecu p/n: 03 - https://d-cparts.com/products/2000-2003-vw-1-9l-tdi-alh-immobilizer-delete-service-for-ecu-p-n-038906012

He sells ECUs with the immobilizer delete service for $75. If you hit the wall with getting your de-immobilized, he can hook you up.

I should have just bought one with the immobilizer off already, but wanted the extra stuff as well. Was tempted to just order one of those but wouldn't arrive in time, and I've spent a bunch of money on this thing recently.

 

[Old Nick]

I should have just bought one with the immobilizer off already, but wanted the extra stuff as well. Was tempted to just order one of those but wouldn't arrive in time, and I've spent a bunch of money on this thing recently.

I hear you. Money tends to fly away a little too fast. Stoked to see your truck running soon.

 

[DirtSniffer]

They did manage to get the cable and get it done, paying out the a$$ not to have it shipped in to save time but with some luck it could be running tonight

 

[Old Nick]

They did manage to get the cable and get it done, paying out the a$$ not to have it shipped in to save time but with some luck it could be running tonight

Good luck, brother.

 

[DirtSniffer]

Called it a night, got pretty close but these loose ends are taking longer than I hoped.

Rear diff filled, brakes mostly bled (ran out of fluid), new wheels installed, heater cores flushed, clamps on all coolant lines, coolant mostly filled, charge and intake pipes installed.

To do list for tomorrow:
Idler spacer
Fuel filter
Get a can of diesel (gauge is reading empty, not sure if correct)
Wire up ECU trigger wire
Cross fingers and hope it fires