Engine Conversions - Suzuki Swift 1.3 GTI

Post by **PaulEllis** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:28 am

Has anyone considered or used this great little motor yet, I've seen the usual K series, fiat stuff and midgets/sprites with the swift engine, but I've not come across any moggies yet.
Anyone know why not or has it been done already? answers on a postcard please!

Post by **mrsnak** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:34 am

I've got a '73 Datsun B210 engine (with automatic transmission) in mine. Also heard that the old Fiat 124 engine fits quite nicely.
Just wonder how much modification (or capping off) needs to be done for newer motors with all the pollution control mods?

Post by **paulhumphries** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:08 am

Everything's possible but it depends on your conversion skills.
First difficulty might be mating a RWD gearbox.
The SJ413 might provide a suitable unit (the transfer box is a seperate unit with gearbox being a normal RWD item)

Paul Humphries

Post by **polo2k** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:32 am

I remember being taken out in one of those when i was 16, W

W for a 1.3!

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:42 am

midgets/sprites with the swift engine,

Not seen or heard of one of those conversions, and as Paul says how was the gearbox done.

Post by **dunketh** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:21 pm

Rumour has it the Swift GTI enigne mates up directly to a super carry box - thus providing you with a small RWD unit ready to go.
It was a job one of my mates always had planned, before the van rusted apart around him.
You might even be able to use a modified suzuki prop and axle too - I can't recal the supercarry dimensions but minors are small and skinny too so there cant be much in it.

Theres also the later 'Carry' vans that used a 1.3 engine as standard, again small and RWD.

Its an idea I've mentioned before but no-one seems to have done it or heard of it done.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:49 pm

Its an idea I've mentioned before but no-one seems to have done it or heard of it done.

Well PaulEllis says

and midgets/sprites with the swift engine

But I cant find anything about it maybe he can point me in the right direction.

Post by **dunketh** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:10 pm

Fingers crossed eh?
Its a shame there arent more affluent, experimental moggy owners about who can afford to try new ideas like this on behalf of the greater community.

I wonder if JLH or any of the other specialists have considered this conversion route?

Post by **jonathon** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:15 pm

Sorry

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:13 pm

Good modern small capacity diesel - that will run on vegetable oil (less than £1 litre) would be good! Top speed may be a bit limited (due to limited engine revs) - but then that all helps the fuel economy.

Post by **wanderinstar** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:12 pm

I would forget "modern" Roy. They probably won't run on it. Went into Renault today to see if our Clio with a "common rail diesel engine" would run on Bio-diesel. Sorry no it wont. Apparently the boi diesel bu88ers up all the seals in the pumps and they start leaking. The chap saind it would be OK in an old Transit. Apparently Peugot and Ford are the same. 5% max only. By the time you have been to collect it 5% is not worth doing.

Post by **kennatt** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:15 am

don't know about 5% been running my r reg transit on veg oil 97p a litre from tesco at the following 20 litres of oil plus 5 litres of diesel in the summer and 50% in the winter. It will run on 100% oil in the summer but after a cold night, starts but runs sluggish until warm.Been doing it for 3 years with no sign of any problems. As long as there is a bosch pump fitted it will take the thicker fuel.My friend has a ford galaxy and is doing the same,so is another with a peugot van. He puts a drop of petrol into his to thin the oil.Do a search on vegoil.com youll be supprised at the range of vehicles that are being run this way.Over 30p a litre saving

Post by **paulhumphries** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:34 am

Common rail diesels definatley won't run on veg oil or veg oil/ pump diesel mix - but maybe be OK on PROPER processed bio diesel. Manufacturer should specify if engine suitable or not.
A quick way of checking if a CR is look at engine and see if there are wires going to all the injectors.
If so then it's almost certain it's a common rail as they have a high pressure fuel pump and a ECU then opens the injector electronically to squirt fuel in rather than a mechanical distribution pump as on conventional diesels.

BTW some conventional diesels have a flow sensor on one or more injectors (to do with EGR / emmissions reduction) hence needing to check all injectors for wires if trying to see if a CR.

Paul Humphries

Post by **wanderinstar** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:12 pm

No disrespect to you kennat but that is what I said "old Transit". The 5% was to go in a common rail engine. Only saying what Renault service manager said to me. I was thoroughly pi**ed off, was hoping to save 25p/litre.

Wasn't there something on TopGear about running an old Merc on refined chip fat?

Post by **paulhumphries** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:23 pm

wanderinstar wrote: Wasn't there something on TopGear about running an old Merc on refined chip fat?

I've run loads of vehicles on veg oil and the older generation 1.5, 1.6 & 1.9 VW engines in Golf & Passat are happy on it if you want something smaller than a Merc.
I ran a Peugeot 205 (with 1.8 na engine) for around 20,000 miles on 75% veg oil to 25% pump diesel mix.

Paul Humphries

Post by **wanderinstar** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:58 pm

Hmmm, I suppose this is the price (pun intended) I pay for having an efficient engine. Mind you I do only pay £35 road tax.
I'm a Yorkshireman though and I want cheap fuel as well. It's just not fair.

Post by **chrisd87** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:21 pm

I was chatting to an old bloke a while back who said he ran his Peugeot 205 diesel on domestic heating oil from his Rayburn. Fairly sure the cost would be similar to red diesel, but not especially legal of course. Don't know if it's dyed, but even then I can think of a few cunning ways of getting round a police dip test.

Post by **kennatt** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:39 pm

Thats why I run an old transit van

You can keep all of the new fancy stuff with engine management systems that you can't touch and cost a fortune when they go wrong.Nothing wrong with a straight forwards pumped injection system at 97p a litre ,wait till fuel reaches £1.60 which it will.Or when israel bomb iran and they blow up the oil supplies and fuel goes to £2 a litre. Every body will want to buy my old transit,it's only done 80thou so should be good for another200 before an engine rebuild

As far as domestic fuel is concerned dont do it ,it shows up when tested and the excise lads were in my area stopping and dipping vans and cars last week. A policeman friend of mine was on duty with them and said they were dying to get someone using heating oil,the fine is aparently twice as much as red diesel. He said that about 70% of the white vans(Old ones of course) were on veg oil ,now quite legal

Post by **wanderinstar** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:04 pm

Agree with everything you say. Trouble is I don't somehow see "er indoors" willing to drive round in a Transit. She won't even drive the Moggy. Stuck up bi**h

Soppose you pay duty on veg oil then?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:40 pm

No - it's ok to use veg oil, and can still be bought for under £1 per litre although it's going up all the time. I hear the Metro/Citroen 1,5D runs ok on veg oil and is better than the earlier 1.4 D. Can anyone confirm ? Of course - there are A series diesels about - used in Leyland tractor - but i doubt they are very efficient. And hard to find!