engine swap options for lupo 1.7 sdi

[micick]

Hi guys, I'm a 16 years old from italy and i'm completely inexperienced about car tuning (only a bit about motorcycles). I have a old lupo my grandpa doesn't drive anymore and it will be my first car at 18. But since i want to play in advance i would like to already have the car tuned up to obtain some more power. As far as I know i don't think it's easy to put a petrol GTI 1.6 16v in the diesel car (i would anyway rely on my father and our mechanic for every step, but this one doesn't look the proper way). And i think it's the same for the 1.8t engine.

So i thought the only interesting options could be the 1.9 tdi and what else? I don't even know if this kind of engine would fit in the car, and how easily, but i know that it will be very easy to find one also buying an old mk4 golf. I don't want to exaggerate because i would just like a sleeper build with 110-130 hp. Or tell me if i'm completely wrong about something and nothing can be done. Obviously, since i'm not expert, i need to know the easiest ways to make this car a bit faster. 

thanks

[mk2]

Hi and welcome to Club Lupo

Yes you can do exactly that- put the TDi engine in the Lupo. @battlebus has already done it, but slightly differently, using the 1.7 engine then adding a turbo, then having ECU remapped.

I think the easiest way is like you say, use a donor car, with the old 1.9 TDi (it's the same engine, but with a different crankshaft). Use the bolt on bits from the SDI engine (like alternator, power steering pump and injector mounting).

You'll need to use the old SDI gearbox, because anything bigger will not fit. So have the gearbox rebuilt with new seals and bearings before you start. You will need to rebuild the gearbox often, because it is designed for a 60hp engine...

Great project. A real sleeper. It WILL be powerful. A lot faster.

[Rich]

You're 16, drive it and enjoy it for what it is.