90 to 2.2 engine swap?

[cockneytone]

Hi guys I did the d8 t0 d9 leather upgrade I got an auto sparks to wire up the seats for £35 now i am thinking 2.2 engine or bigger in my car. am i better off with a complete donor? or not bothering? your thoughts on this will be much appreciated thanks.

[gumby6371]

Hi mate, assuming you have a D8 and wish to fit a D9 2.2 engine in it?

Is it possible - yes
Is it practical - no

Simpler to reshell a 2.2 D9 with D8 parts but I'd have to ask why not just buy a 2.2 and drive that, it's the easiest and cheapest option.

[Welly]

It doesn't really make sense to do this given the enormous amount of work needed configuring everything especially as you can pick up a 2.2 fairly cheap now (especially if you can find a 2002-ish model with a current Anti-Pollution fault as there's a cheap fix for this).

[cockneytone]

Hi guys thanks for the input its a 2003 D9 90hdi. put D8 interior in after a fire so looks all exec now lol. I found this site as was putting interior in so very useful. I'm happy enough with the engine i have, its a lovely car will put pics up shortly. we inherited it of my Mrs late father, he actually left it for our son so we could take him away on holidays in it. I had a new clutch recently and a service as the car had been standing 2 years and never got around to using it. Think if we never had this car I would get a cope, didn't realise just how comfortable and cheap to run these cars are. I had the chance of a bashed up 2.2 and thought about a bigger diesel engine install however think now I will leave well alone and just concentrate on preventative maintenance. I have used heating fuel and fresh veg oil in previous diesels and apart from the cold starts in winter actually swear blind car ran better then standard. in winter i did a 70 percent diesel and 30 veg oil, in summer did 50 50 and on long journeys did 100per cent veg then at the end of the journey diesel mix what was left in the tank. anyway super group and happy joined.

[gumby6371]

Always happy to give help/advice on here but on the subject of veg oil, DON'T run a HDI on it, it will block up very quickly.
The HDI's can be remapped for more power and better economy pretty cheaply and depending on which fuel pump it has it can even be a DIY job.

[Welly]

If you've had a new clutch and are otherwise happy with the car then get it remapped to 120bhp and it'll go very nicely. The HDi is well under-tuned in standard form. You'll get better MPG with the remap too.

[Doggy]

The 2.2 swap would be possible with the complete car to rob everything from, but it would be a huge job. Far more sensible to leave well alone or swap yours for a 2.2. I would also give up on the idea of running it on anything other than pump diesel, or bio.

[cockneytone]

Yes veg oil is to thick, definately. heating oil has not enough lubricant but mixed with veg oil is perfect can be stored in a tank at your home and have fuel delivered to your door lol. Have been looking at used engine oil with additives added, its a big craze in usa spent 3 months out there. Ebay selling kits but again bit different to what I know works. Any thoughts on it?

[rwb]

get it remapped to 120bhp

It might be cheaper to swap it for a 2.2 than pay the extra insurance for a remap. The AA want to increase my premium by 109% to cover a remap from 90 to 125.

[cockneytone]

Had been thinking of a remap, needs just a bit more oomph, gonna check out a place local to me on Tuesday, if he is any good will let you know, end of the day as long as its reliable and performs bit better then standard I will be happy, Its a comfortable cruiser, I prefer it to my mrs cooper s that is very bumpy cramped but does go like the proverbial of a shovel! 125 bhp is good can you recommend anyone? should I get nowhere on Tuesday.

[Welly]

Yes veg oil is to thick, definately. heating oil has not enough lubricant but mixed with veg oil is perfect can be stored in a tank at your home and have fuel delivered to your door lol. Have been looking at used engine oil with additives added, its a big craze in usa spent 3 months out there. Ebay selling kits but again bit different to what I know works. Any thoughts on it?

Honestly mate you'll be wasting your time trying to get a common rail diesel with piezo injectors to run on anything other than pump diesel. Worst case it that you ruin the whole injection system and the car's a scrapper. The 90 is really cheap to run anyway I don't think you'll get anything better and remapped will do even more mpg.

Alternative fuels are best kept for the old diesels with mechanical injection.

[cockneytone]

Point taken, I have been quoted £200 for the remap the guy wants it all day apparently he does it and road tests it etc if i went 136bhp he said will loose some mpg. but if i go to 120 bhp got the best of both? He seems to know his onions but anyone else got any ideas or contacts? I must get pics up and show you whats been done.

[Welly]

I wouldn't try squeezing too much out of it, after all there's no intercooler on the 90 so it might get smokey and loose power on hot days.

120bhp seems about right for the engine as far as most people on here think. If this guy wants it all day that's a good sign in itself as he'll be checking to make sure it isn't 'peaky' and doesn't smoke too much.

You'll need to look after it a bit more with oil changes every 6 months or 6000 miles in my opinion just to keep it running well and make sure the engine and turbo have time to 'run down' after a spirited run etc.

[Doggy]

I promised I'd do all that, but never bothered, (save for the latest oil change at 8k so it wouldn't get near needing one while abroad). 45,000 miles later, all seems fine. If you thiink about it, your engine's only under additional strain when it's doing things it couldn't do to begin with.

I realise a remapped 90 might have to work a bit harder in a big bus like the 406, but if you're sensible it's not difficult to begin and end your journeys at a gentle pace.

Oh! I'd vote 120bhp too, BTW