Right guys and gals it has been well over a year now since I finished my MK1 and I am getting itchy fingers to do some more modding !!! So what is the best engine, gearbox etc conversion for a MK1 to give a good balance of drivability and power ? Can those who have done the following to a MK1 give me some feedback on it G60 2 or 2.1 litre 8V 2 or 2.1 litre 16V 1.8T
Simplicity and reliability reasons made me go valver route 2.0l 9a tuned engine with kr cams,should give you between 170-180 brake pending how much you want to spend
I have gone the budget route and used a 2ltr 2e bottom end with polished k-jet 8v head with kent GS2 cam. It gives great torque but admitidly doesnt rev half as well as the 16v but i think it is more usable on the road. Im using a 16v gear box to give it better legs at the top end. On the rolling road when it was set up it ran 148 bhp @fly wheel. Gonna try a v-sam pro unit that is half installed and also port the head a bit more to see if this helps. In total it has only cost a few hundred pounds and totaly transforms the mk1.
2.0l 8v for me Tsr pack d head, tsr 103 cam, AWR. The car has never been properly setup other than a standard tune and ran 126bhp at the wheels on TSR's road, with a faulty Distributor(No Vac adv) new dizzy should come today. Then get mot sorted and take it to stealth for setting up. I went down the 8v route for ease of setup plus it looks standard!
Depends what you want it for. A tuned 16v is the cheapest bank for buck option. I got 170bhp out of an 1800 16v with a flowed head. A tuned 2.0L 8v will give you brilliant results too. A 1.8T is much more expensive to do but can get huge power and excellent motorway accelleration. Im now going to use an ABF 16v from a mk3 gti.
Ade, I've never swapped a Mk1 engine but I used to have a Mk1 with a standard Mk2 16v (1.8 KR) engine and it flew. I recently installed an Audi 6A 2L 16v in my Mk2 and that transformed the car with the extra torque more than anything, in a lighter Mk1 it would be awesome. I'd say go for a 2L 16v, tried and tested and relatively cheap to do.
I'd go the 16v route as if the engine blows up theres plenty available. also the wiring is pretty much there in a GTi so its just a case of connecting the ECU and ISV. I have a KR 16v bored out to 1.9 and thats fast. Anything greater than a 2.0 16v and you'd struggle to put the power down. Also remember to upgrade your brakes!!
I'd say 16v too, for the more sensible option. But if you have a few grand's budget and can do most of the conversion yourself, the 20vt is possible.
Cheers for all of your replies. I am almost certain that I am going to go down the G60 route. Something about keeping it 8 Valve and the sound of a super charger has really got my juices flowing !!! Any one got any pics of a MK1 fitted with a G60 ? I only cover about 3K a year in the Mk1 so not too worried about super charger servicing !!!! Edited by: Ade.Mk1
G60, its a damn nice sounding engine. The G-Lader reputation puts me off though. Kinda like the 020 gearboxes, just dont know when it may go bang! lol!
Ade - same reasons I decided on the G60 in mine. I wanted more torque than the 16v route can produce as well & its sounds great - make sure the charger is in good nick to start with though as I'm sure you know. Some info/pics here......... http://www.matey-matey.com