Golf gti turbo best engine swap

[Rikki Kitto]

Just a quick question, a friend is thinking of a project for his Golf. Which would be the easiest engine swap for the best results

[Jckssn]

A turbocharged Seat ABF 2.0 16v is a really nice engine!

[adam g]

The corrado VR6 engine makes them insteresting. Never done one but been in one. The owner said it wasnt too bad a job

[Big Lee M]

What golf is it Mk1/2/3/4? My mate is just building a ABF turbo for his show car been on the car itself for two years. A standard ABF is fun in a Mk2. If its a Mk4 a passat R36 engine would be good.

[Monkeymagic]

One of the most common engine transplants is the 1.8t.

Another is VR6 which if it is a MK2 golf? with central electrics will be straight plug and play regarding electrics. The best way to do this is to use the subframe/wishbones and driveshafts from a MK3. It's easiest to get a complete donor car.

The R32 Lump has been done but suspect you would really have to know your stuff for that one and obviously the initial outlay would be vast

The 2.0 tfsi has also been fitted to a mk2 maintaining the high pressure fuel system which was a nightmare from what I have heard.

Personally a well sorted 2.0 8 valve GTI will shift very well.

Again a sorted 2.0 16 valve will easily put out 160 bhp. Turbo it and they become an animal.

You have to ask yourself what is the point of having all that power in a MK2? In 2wd you will not get the power down.

Start with a syncro and it's a different matter.

Please if its a G60 or Rallye dont change it. There's alot to be said for originallity.

[martinws]

Have a look at Gnutz's thread on here RE a mk2!

[Christophski]

My brothers mk1 caddy has a 2.o 16v abf on motorbike carbs. sounds and goes like the nuts! almost keeps up with a mapped S2! and my mates mk1 has a 1.8t and also goes incredibly well but doesn't sound nearly as good!

I have another 2 mates with mk2's. they are both 1.8t but one of them has over 300bhp and cannot get the power down. It scares the bazinga out of you! I think it is built from an s3 though? The other one is a really early 1.8t (AHU?) he found it easier to use than a later version of the engine.

[Monkeymagic]

I have owned a mk1 caddy running a 2 litre 16 valve and a few bits. 165 bhp and **** loads of torque steer only ever floored it couple of times and the back end ( leaf springs) used to get very loose.
My mk2 8 valve is very well sorted in every respect it puts out 135 bhp and it will go into 1 wheel drive if its damp. They are good cars but will not handle past about 160 bhp in my opinion. Why chase figures in such a light car BHP means nothing in my opinion.

[Christophski]

I totally agree with the above. However the look on people's faces when a knackered rust bucket caddy whoops there asses of there £30k cars is priceless. The torque is the main factor and the noise however if you can get the grip, and that's a big if in a little car.... Then chase some extra power!

[Rikki Kitto]

Cheers fellas I'll pass the info on not sure think its an 1998 mk4 gti turbo 1.8

[Christophski]

A mk3?

[andy10v]

1.8t with s3 turbo, injectors, chip is pretty hard to beat bang for buck!

Even a chipped 1.8t as you can get them so cheap, or buy a car, strip/scrap and you have a free engine.

Depends if you have space and if you do it all yourself though.

[Val]

Pretty much the same as Jckssn wrote.

[Monkeymagic]

If it's a mk4 it should be 150 AUQ engine. unless its an anniversary model. In short stick with the 1.8t and buy any number of bolt on extras to gain extra bhp.
the 150 with ko3 turbo is restrictive as the inlet valves are smaller. You would be better starting with the 180 bhp(larger valves) ko3s turbo engine as standard.
However as there are that many upgrades avaliable for these engines and it is well known it will run 300 bhp on stock internals.

Start with a 210 or 225 (BAM) engine with K04 turbo from TT/S3 then just a re-map will see 260.

[Monkeymagic]

pretty sure on a 98 they weren't doing the 1.8t it was a gti but it was a 2 litre 8 valve n/a 115 bhp. In other words a MK2/MK3 lump. These babies are renowned for burning as much oil as fuel and mis fires. The oil scraper ring was re- designed to stop this.#
If it is a 2 litre and you go to 1.8t you have to ask why build a car you can buy???