mk2 Golf- VR6 Conversion
Discussion
Hi guys, Bought a nice mars red mk2 golf Gti today.
I'm defo looking at the VR6 conversion so any body got any advice such as cost ? and how easy it is?
Better buying a donor car or individual parts ?
I've got good mechanical knowledge so could do most of it I think!! but would pay to get it done if I got into a pickle!!
cheers
I'm defo looking at the VR6 conversion so any body got any advice such as cost ? and how easy it is?
Better buying a donor car or individual parts ?
I've got good mechanical knowledge so could do most of it I think!! but would pay to get it done if I got into a pickle!!
cheers
I know a fellow who with a running but crappy MK3 donor car had his MK2 running with its engine and box in a weekend. Easy enough to get it running and a very slippery tuning slope once it is.
Proper spring rates for the front is a common discussion on club GTI etc. and a lower final drive ratio is supposed to make a huge difference too. The MK3 is silly high geared and has a theoretical top speed of something daft like 160.
Proper spring rates for the front is a common discussion on club GTI etc. and a lower final drive ratio is supposed to make a huge difference too. The MK3 is silly high geared and has a theoretical top speed of something daft like 160.
Dr G said:
I know a fellow who with a running but crappy MK3 donor car had his MK2 running with its engine and box in a weekend. Easy enough to get it running and a very slippery tuning slope once it is.
Proper spring rates for the front is a common discussion on club GTI etc. and a lower final drive ratio is supposed to make a huge difference too. The MK3 is silly high geared and has a theoretical top speed of something daft like 160.
All I'm really worried about is the wiring and stuff like that, a weekend sounds good to me lol.Proper spring rates for the front is a common discussion on club GTI etc. and a lower final drive ratio is supposed to make a huge difference too. The MK3 is silly high geared and has a theoretical top speed of something daft like 160.
NicDale said:
I'm just selling mine at the moment, are you going wide track too? What parts and from where are you going to use for the conversion?
Was thinking about wide track ? I've got the chance of a straight vr6 donor car at the moment and also a corrado with some pretty nice interior I could use 
Mk2VR6 website is a great resource.
I would always recommend using VR6 suspension and wide track plus brakes to make the most of the conversion.
The only possible floor in the plan is if you buy a corrado VR6 as a donor because if you get to drive it you will probably bin the mk2 golf and just keep the Corrado and not worry about engine conversions.
if you are looking at mk3 golf donors then be aware that there are ODB1 and ODB2 models, the later ones have better engine management but slightly more complex wiring. You still need to get hold of a few parts to do the conversion properly -
1) Corrado Vr6 pedal box - this fits the mk2 bulkhead much better and easier than a mk3 golf
2) Corrado VR6 radiator and fan set up - a mk3 radiator is too tall and you'd end up butchering the slam panel to get a good fit.
3) Solid front engine mount - mk2 VR specific
4) Cut down rear engine mount
5) the corrado radiator top outlet and the corrado coolant pipe from the rad>expansion bottle>throttle body.
6) Immobiliser - on post 1993 cars an immobiliser. There are a few ways around it, either install the Mk3 barrel and locks to your car keeping a working immobiliser (most effort but most factory) maintain the mk3 key/transponder and immobiliser hidden behind the dash (
) or have the ECU sent off for a immobiliser flash and a remap = easiest install and you can add a higher 7000+ rpm rev limit and remove the soft limiter which means happy days.
I would always recommend using VR6 suspension and wide track plus brakes to make the most of the conversion.
The only possible floor in the plan is if you buy a corrado VR6 as a donor because if you get to drive it you will probably bin the mk2 golf and just keep the Corrado and not worry about engine conversions.
if you are looking at mk3 golf donors then be aware that there are ODB1 and ODB2 models, the later ones have better engine management but slightly more complex wiring. You still need to get hold of a few parts to do the conversion properly -
1) Corrado Vr6 pedal box - this fits the mk2 bulkhead much better and easier than a mk3 golf
2) Corrado VR6 radiator and fan set up - a mk3 radiator is too tall and you'd end up butchering the slam panel to get a good fit.
3) Solid front engine mount - mk2 VR specific
4) Cut down rear engine mount
5) the corrado radiator top outlet and the corrado coolant pipe from the rad>expansion bottle>throttle body.
6) Immobiliser - on post 1993 cars an immobiliser. There are a few ways around it, either install the Mk3 barrel and locks to your car keeping a working immobiliser (most effort but most factory) maintain the mk3 key/transponder and immobiliser hidden behind the dash (
) or have the ECU sent off for a immobiliser flash and a remap = easiest install and you can add a higher 7000+ rpm rev limit and remove the soft limiter which means happy days.der1 said:
Was thinking about wide track ? I've got the chance of a straight vr6 donor car at the moment and also a corrado with some pretty nice interior I could use
Please don't use the Corrado as they're getting rare already and I plan to own another one soon and want to have a good choice and don't want the prices to go too high!On a serious note as aka kerly has pointed out, you might find the better driving dynamics and looks of the Corrado swing you into keeping that instead of doing the conversion!
when you do this swap use the Corrado VR front crossmember and an upgraded poly mount, solid front mounts just vibrate the crap out of everything else.
The way i did Mk3 8v - Mk3 VR was side-by-side, remove the engines on the subframes and rolling, unplug everything from the car end, and leave attached on the engine, roll out, roll into new home, plug back up, connect exhaust, swap clocks etc.
Easy to get turnkey in a weekend with a bit of prior planning and a good soaking of difficult bolts.
The way i did Mk3 8v - Mk3 VR was side-by-side, remove the engines on the subframes and rolling, unplug everything from the car end, and leave attached on the engine, roll out, roll into new home, plug back up, connect exhaust, swap clocks etc.
Easy to get turnkey in a weekend with a bit of prior planning and a good soaking of difficult bolts.
If you're doing a complete Corrado VR6 in to a mk2 conversion then I don't agree that the Corrado is the better driving car, the mk2 weighs a fair bet less than a Corrado turns, stops and goes a lot better as a result. Also be aware that you will need to modify the bulkhead and the chassis leg a little regardless of what you use for a conversion. You can get solid pulleys that just clear the chassis leg but they're a fortune from memory. Spend a couple of hours of mk2vr6.com as has already been mentioned.
NicDale said:
If you're doing a complete Corrado VR6 in to a mk2 conversion then I don't agree that the Corrado is the better driving car, the mk2 weighs a fair bet less than a Corrado turns, stops and goes a lot better as a result. Also be aware that you will need to modify the bulkhead and the chassis leg a little regardless of what you use for a conversion. You can get solid pulleys that just clear the chassis leg but they're a fortune from memory. Spend a couple of hours of mk2vr6.com as has already been mentioned.
Chassis leg is for pulleys, bulkhead for hydraulic master.DON'T use the clutch cable mod, utter crap.
JB! said:
Chassis leg is for pulleys, bulkhead for hydraulic master.
DON'T use the clutch cable mod, utter crap.
I'd say a lot is to do with how it's set up and the condition of the cables. I'm not much of a fan of cable change though in less there is a short shifter attached.DON'T use the clutch cable mod, utter crap.
Also worth mentioning the GTI 16v mk3 box final drive on a VR is very worthwhile, 3.69 iirc means you can still hit 140mph ,3rd,4th are brutal plus it is much better on track as you don't need to drop into 2nd at 60mph!
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff