Club G40 Forum

Technical => Engine and Transmission => Topic started by: Tommo on May 27, 2009, 07:20:33 pm

Title: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on May 27, 2009, 07:20:33 pm
I have seen this done with the 1W diesel block, just with oversize custom pistons.

Now from what I gather the ABD is a very similar block/crank to the 1W, still 75mm bore like most stuff, but with a longer stroke, but it dosent have the piston cooling jets. I also gather that the gudgeon pins are a different size to the polo engines, so fitting G40 pistons etc is difficult. Hence the custom pistons.

So my question is does this conversion require the same pistons as it does with the 1W block? Makes life easyer if I could order them from a company that has done a set before.


Cheers

Tommo
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: sinister polo on May 27, 2009, 07:32:39 pm
someone on here was selling a set of forged pistons to work with a 1.5 diesel crank a while ago,
i think he said there were only 2 sets in exsistance!
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Nick_S on May 27, 2009, 09:50:25 pm
1W is a 1398cc and ABD is 1391cc standard, therefore 1W crank produces a longer stroke. Gudgeon pins are only thicker on the diesel.

Not sure if you could produce a 1.4 G40 using an ABD crank though?
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: polo classic on May 28, 2009, 01:43:14 pm
I do not think the other 1,4L cranks are as strong as the 1W cranks
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 03, 2009, 09:35:43 pm
I would guess that the 1W crank is super tough because its a diesel, so has to be. But thats not to say that the ABD crank isnt strong enough to handle a fair bit of power. After all, I gather that a G40 crank is nothing special, and people seem to run plenty of power on that.

So, if the gudgeon pins are the same dia, what stops you fitting G40 pistons to an ABD to have a 1400 G40? Perhaps the deck height etc is all wrong.

Either way when Ive got some cash I will be buying an ABD, and then I shall know. If I have to I will just machine the pistons to lower the CR. Then see if the bottom end disintigrates. But I cant see it myself, if a 3 bearing non counterweighted mini crank can rev to 7k with 180bhp with no problems then im sure VW's finest will have no bother.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Yoof on June 03, 2009, 11:02:34 pm
Why would VW make a 55bhp diesel crank doing a max of 4000rpm stronger than one destined for a 113bhp 6800rpm 1.3 ?

Also does anyone know the flow of the oil jets in a 1W and the calculated drop in oil pressures effect on say... a lader or turbo?

Or if indeed the blocks are actually stronger...

And has anyone made decent power on one yet?

Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: hayesey on June 04, 2009, 09:26:24 am
Quote
And has anyone made decent power on one yet?

that's the million dollar question isn't it! The only one I've seen at a rolling road day made 165bhp which is unimpressive to say the least, although he only had 8psi boost for some reason.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: polo classic on June 04, 2009, 01:22:08 pm
I seem to remember that Tony Lo mentioned that the normal 1,4 cranks where cast while 1W is forged, or if it was different materials

Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 04, 2009, 09:20:08 pm
Why would VW make a 55bhp diesel crank doing a max of 4000rpm stronger than one destined for a 113bhp 6800rpm 1.3 ?

Because the compression ratio in the diesel would be in excess of 20:1, that crank is going to take a massive pounding all its life. Im guessing thats why they increased the size of the gudgeon pins as well, obviously they were a weak point.

I can believe that the 1W has a forged crank. Are the 1.3 cranks forged? I will have a look tomorrow.

As for the blocks, the strength of them is fairly irrelavant. These little VW engines have pretty massive main caps anyway, dosent look like much chance of stretch.

In a week or so I should be finding out how much boost you can run on a standard 9.5:1 1.3 engine. See how long it takes to det its way through a piston or two. Im not worried, plenty of spares. ;)

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i207/tommo32/polo%20turbo/01-06-093.jpg)
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Dan on June 04, 2009, 09:31:47 pm
What are the Conrods like on ABD ?

What sort of management and air flow/mass measuring are you employing there ?
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: lance on June 04, 2009, 09:38:11 pm
forged crank wouldnt be smart. if they where gonna uprate one it would be steel.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 04, 2009, 09:44:54 pm
What are the Conrods like on ABD ?

What sort of management and air flow/mass measuring are you employing there ?

Haha, Im old skool baby! Ask your dad what a carburettor is.

Yeah ive got an R5 GT Turbo carb on there at the min. Mainly because its cheap and easy. In the future when everything else is going well it will either get a system built with VEMS or just bodge everythnig on off probably an S13 200SX.

At the moment the timing is ridgid as well, so no good for economy, but awesome for boost!

Its just a bit of a play about really. It isnt costing much to do and it is somthing to do. I thought about a G40 conversion but I like playing with stuff and I dont have £600.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Yoof on June 05, 2009, 07:08:54 am
I realise the compression ratio is higher, the G40 crank still has to deal with a larger amount of energy transfer in a shorter space of time  ::)

Hence, why make a diesel crank stronger?

VW didn't forge them, you can see casting marks!

Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Dan on June 05, 2009, 10:33:50 am
I'm aware of carburettors thanks  ;)

Rather than a spray of fuel going in with EFi, it's a big shower of fuel. Not exactly accurate, neither is fixed timing. I see it as a step back in efficiency from standard equipment on a Mk3 Polo. Fair enough your trying to make a turbo work, but why not do a good job in the first place ? You say that you don't have £600 or whatever to spend on G40 stuff, but if you might end up spending more than that on replacing broken parts and rebuilding things.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 05, 2009, 03:46:06 pm
I'm aware of carburettors thanks  ;)

Rather than a spray of fuel going in with EFi, it's a big shower of fuel. Not exactly accurate, neither is fixed timing. I see it as a step back in efficiency from standard equipment on a Mk3 Polo. Fair enough your trying to make a turbo work, but why not do a good job in the first place ? You say that you don't have £600 or whatever to spend on G40 stuff, but if you might end up spending more than that on replacing broken parts and rebuilding things.

I must admit I almost take offence at that comment, and I hope I didnt cause offence with the 'ask your dad' jest.

Carburettors are fine on turbo cars as long as you pay attention, I have a wideband AFR setup so getting the carb to deliver the correct amount of fuel should be relatively straight forward. Bear in mind that people have run 240bhp on these carbs.

The fixed timing is also a cheap and easy solution, which compromises only efficiency.


The digifant system in my eyes is in no way ideal either, and I cant map it myself. Plus I know relatively little about it.

But please rest assured, I am probably less likely to melt an engine running fixed timing and a carb than I would be with the digifant system, simply becuase I can tune what I have now at the side of the road.

What can I say, I enjoy messing with stuff. EFI wouldnt quite be the same for me unless I made it myself.

To give you an idea though, My carb was £30, Cosworth IC was £20, Turbo was nothing, (although the turbine housing and turbine wheel I have fitted cost me £30), I have made my manifold for the cost of the bends (£20). The car cost me £340. 



Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 05, 2009, 03:57:01 pm
I realise the compression ratio is higher, the G40 crank still has to deal with a larger amount of energy transfer in a shorter space of time  ::)

Hence, why make a diesel crank stronger?

Yeah, its a fair point. I wonder if perhaps the actual power transfered through the stroke is not as crucial to crankshaft life as the force caused by the cylinder pressures. I suppose the power transfered through the stroke is of a much more gradual nature than the sudden impact of compressing an inlet charge to extremely high pressure until it explodes.

Ive searched the internet a little but all I can find is this...
Quote
"Because a diesel engine compresses air inside the cylinders with greater force, the engine block, pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, and other components must be stronger than those of a gasoline engine with the same power output. As a result, diesel engines tend to be heavier and more expensive to manufacture."
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Yoof on June 05, 2009, 04:58:13 pm
Yes, like for like (same net power output) diesel components have to be stronger. In this case the 1W original design was less than half the power of the PY motor- hence my concern.

As you say the main caps are a reasonable size for the power output, but for those aiming for 250bhp on a 1W bottom end, I'd be wary about it.

Good to know you've got a wideband- shame you've got a fixed ignition system, can you not get one from an early turbo charged saab? Least you'd be able to make the most of whatever advance curve you ended up with.

Be interesting to see the end result!
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 05, 2009, 05:15:57 pm
Hmm, I have not looked into SAAB ignition, Im sure I could graft the R5GTT kit on with minimal fuss.

But as im sure you are aware there is little to gain for power, just a little more drivability and of course economy. All most systems do is retard to 10 degrees as soon as you come on boost anyway, so its only off boost where mine will be effected, mostly on the motorway when you are off boost and you would ideally be running over 25 degrees of advance. But its not like its a daily driver so it will just have to wait till I get around to it.

One thing I would like to get off an early turbo saab is the boost controller they have. It has a knock sensor (a proper one not like you get on most FI cars) and when it detects det it retards boost by 0.1bar, but its a closed loop system so it is constantly trying more boost and feeling for det, You can specify how sensitive you want it to be to det and how much boost you want to run with little potentiometers on the module. And its a stand alone system, not attached to the rest of the loom.

Too much emphasis is placed on the strength of bottom ends, anything less than 30 years old will probably handle more power than anyone dares to boost it to. I used to worry about until I messed a bit with the metro turbo engine. There are people running over 200bhp on the stock crank and rods, which are a 50 year old design, the crank is not counterweighted, and it only has 3 main bearings instead of 5. Sure its probably not going to make it to 15000 miles without a rebuild, but who the hell cares? A rebuild costs little but time.

Its gearboxes that worry me!
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: lance on June 05, 2009, 06:09:15 pm
yea mate i like your style, as yoof says early saab stuff is worth lookin into,
also what about a early lancia carb as it would be alot better than the r5 one.
just not as easy to get hold of id say.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Andy on June 05, 2009, 09:11:29 pm
One thing I would like to get off an early turbo saab is the boost controller they have. It has a knock sensor (a proper one not like you get on most FI cars) and when it detects det it retards boost by 0.1bar, but its a closed loop system so it is constantly trying more boost and feeling for det, You can specify how sensitive you want it to be to det and how much boost you want to run with little potentiometers on the module. And its a stand alone system, not attached to the rest of the loom.
Saab APC is pretty clever, just uses a piezo knock sensor the same as a stock G40 though.

I've got a 9000 Aero where the APC functionality is built into the Saab Trionic ECU - it measures det through the induced ionisation voltages across the plugs, and is constantly trying to optimise ignition timing and boost levels for the fuel you're running. The ECU can take a while to adapt to new fuel - this is what happened when I went from 97RON to Tesco 99RON and stuck it on the dyno without giving it time to adapt - comedy curves:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/amstrange1/power_torque_at_flywheel.jpg)
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Dan on June 06, 2009, 03:03:34 pm
I wasn't trying to cause offence with what I said. All I'm tyring to say is Electronic Fuel injection injection and ignition is more accurate (as a general rule) compared to carburettors. Fair enough if you don't agree with my opinion, nobody has to agree with everything.

Fair enough if you wan't to use your method, not saying it won't work. If you can get it up and working, great. But as it's a discussion we can all offer input. 
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 06, 2009, 10:49:32 pm
Its ok. And you are of course correct, fuel injection/electronic ignition is a far superior system. But a carburettor is far from useless, after all... we all know that refinement is over rated  ;).

When I have run it for a few months on the carb, I will know if EFI is required. If I went straight to EFI then I would have spunked a load of cash and for all i would know the carb could be just as good. A benchmark to work from is all I am after, if you dont try it you will never know.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: juan on June 07, 2009, 03:57:11 pm
what about the 1.5 g60 on clubpolo, Has that been dynoed yet?
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: PR23M3K on June 13, 2009, 10:16:11 am
What do I have to do to fit 1W diesel crankshaft into PY block ?
PY connecting rod will be good ?
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: Tommo on June 14, 2009, 10:11:01 pm
PY con rod will be too long I think, ABD rods might be an option?. You are better off with the whole block.
Title: Re: Building a 1500cc block using ABD?
Post by: polo classic on June 30, 2009, 01:10:08 pm
What do I have to do to fit 1W diesel crankshaft into PY block ?
PY connecting rod will be good ?


Massage block and G40 rods for clearance, custom piston, custom map and your fine