Engine conversion, advise/thoughts please
Discussion
First and foremost let me apologise to you all as I'm sure that this question will have come up many times......
I have bought a mk3 1.8 8v Golf from a neighbour who needed rid (needless to say it doesn't owe me much) and it sounds like the bottom end is waving ta-ta.
It needs swapping, but I'm unsure whether to go for the VW VR6 or the VAG 1.8T (180 or 225).
Can anybody advise me which is the easiest fit (engine mounts etc), if anybody has run either conversion and also how good (or bad) the VR6 engine is. I've driven a number of 1.8T 225s so I know one'll do
Thanks in advance chaps
I have bought a mk3 1.8 8v Golf from a neighbour who needed rid (needless to say it doesn't owe me much) and it sounds like the bottom end is waving ta-ta.
It needs swapping, but I'm unsure whether to go for the VW VR6 or the VAG 1.8T (180 or 225).
Can anybody advise me which is the easiest fit (engine mounts etc), if anybody has run either conversion and also how good (or bad) the VR6 engine is. I've driven a number of 1.8T 225s so I know one'll do
Thanks in advance chaps
In the immortal words of PVW "Don't build something you can buy"
Maybe the car doesn't owe you much but you can get MK3 VR6's for peanuts, doing the conversion would probably cost more than just buying one? Also you have to figure in the all the time and messing about required.
If you want a 1.8t there are plenty of fairly cheap cars with them in knocking about nowadays, just spend the money to get mega bhp from one.
Maybe the car doesn't owe you much but you can get MK3 VR6's for peanuts, doing the conversion would probably cost more than just buying one? Also you have to figure in the all the time and messing about required.
If you want a 1.8t there are plenty of fairly cheap cars with them in knocking about nowadays, just spend the money to get mega bhp from one.
i wonder what the guy above considers to be cheap. Cheapest 20vT conversions in mk2s seem to be around £3.5 for a already converted car or you can pay a garage around £3.5-5k for a drive in drive out service. Even doing the work yourself it is reasonable to assume you will have little change from £2.5K.
If you consider a decent 20vt engine + gearbox, wiring loom, ecu, keys, accessories ie alternator/starter will set you back around £1K for a 150-180 model, or up to £2k for a 225 engine. Then if you use aftermarket managemet thats a good £1k worth or Qpeng wiring loom + ecu which is £1k. Another alternative is to buy an entire donor car, non drive by wire is easier so consider the early model mk4 golfs, A3s. Take what you need and break the rest up?
A VR6 on the other hand is far cheaper to get the basic engine in and running but if you want big horse power you will need to budget another 1-2K for Forced induction but this will take you north of 300hp. I have estimated buying a mk3 VR6 based donor car to be around £500-1000. Remove the engine/gearbox/subframe/front suspension/wiring/ecu/immobaliser if fitted from the car and possibly the rear axle to.
At the very least i would have new timing chains and tensioners and a clutch fitted + as many seals as you can get to replaced with the engine out the car, this will be around £500.
Then once you have removed everything you need from the mk3 you can sell off the panels, the interior, the mk2 left overs like subframe, brakes, gearbox in order to recoup some of your initial outlay so all in all around £1k to do a VR swap.
Have a look on mk2vr6.com for more information on VRs or clubgti and edition38 have a fair few members who have done 20vt.
As for the dont build something you can buy comment a VR or a 20vt in a MK2 are NOT even close to the same driving experience as those engines in mk3 an mk4 golfs. Remember a mk2 is around 100-150kgs lighter than the 3 an 4.
If you consider a decent 20vt engine + gearbox, wiring loom, ecu, keys, accessories ie alternator/starter will set you back around £1K for a 150-180 model, or up to £2k for a 225 engine. Then if you use aftermarket managemet thats a good £1k worth or Qpeng wiring loom + ecu which is £1k. Another alternative is to buy an entire donor car, non drive by wire is easier so consider the early model mk4 golfs, A3s. Take what you need and break the rest up?
A VR6 on the other hand is far cheaper to get the basic engine in and running but if you want big horse power you will need to budget another 1-2K for Forced induction but this will take you north of 300hp. I have estimated buying a mk3 VR6 based donor car to be around £500-1000. Remove the engine/gearbox/subframe/front suspension/wiring/ecu/immobaliser if fitted from the car and possibly the rear axle to.
At the very least i would have new timing chains and tensioners and a clutch fitted + as many seals as you can get to replaced with the engine out the car, this will be around £500.
Then once you have removed everything you need from the mk3 you can sell off the panels, the interior, the mk2 left overs like subframe, brakes, gearbox in order to recoup some of your initial outlay so all in all around £1k to do a VR swap.
Have a look on mk2vr6.com for more information on VRs or clubgti and edition38 have a fair few members who have done 20vt.
As for the dont build something you can buy comment a VR or a 20vt in a MK2 are NOT even close to the same driving experience as those engines in mk3 an mk4 golfs. Remember a mk2 is around 100-150kgs lighter than the 3 an 4.
Uh RE the above comments.
He wants to put the VR6 engine in a MK3! You can already buy a VR6 MK3 for about £600, thats why I said just buy one. The OP never mentioned doing a conversion into a MK2.
Does nobody ever read the OP anymore????
Anyway as for the 1.8t issue I meant just buy a car that came with a 1.8t on the cheap and just spend the money giving it maga BHP, not a car already converted. Early MK4 GTi, Passat, A4, Bora, Leon.
If i wanted 1.8t power, I'd pick up something sheap like this and spend the money saved from doing the conversion getting some big BHP, this would be an awesome Q'car as well.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-AUDI-A6-1-8T-BLUE-famil...
or this for the same effect
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1996-AUDI-A4-1-8T-SPORT-TURB...
Or this, it's even 4wd! Add a few quids worth of tuning and you have the ultimate Q'car!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/51-SKODA-OCTAVIA-ELEGANCE-1-...
Bloody hell, I'm really tempted now.
He wants to put the VR6 engine in a MK3! You can already buy a VR6 MK3 for about £600, thats why I said just buy one. The OP never mentioned doing a conversion into a MK2.
Does nobody ever read the OP anymore????
Anyway as for the 1.8t issue I meant just buy a car that came with a 1.8t on the cheap and just spend the money giving it maga BHP, not a car already converted. Early MK4 GTi, Passat, A4, Bora, Leon.
If i wanted 1.8t power, I'd pick up something sheap like this and spend the money saved from doing the conversion getting some big BHP, this would be an awesome Q'car as well.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-AUDI-A6-1-8T-BLUE-famil...
or this for the same effect
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1996-AUDI-A4-1-8T-SPORT-TURB...
Or this, it's even 4wd! Add a few quids worth of tuning and you have the ultimate Q'car!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/51-SKODA-OCTAVIA-ELEGANCE-1-...
Bloody hell, I'm really tempted now.
Edited by Nobody You Know on Wednesday 25th March 04:50
Nobody You Know said:
Does nobody ever read the OP anymore????
I only missed the mk3 bit. my apologies!Edited by Nobody You Know on Wednesday 25th March 04:50
There are mk3 20vt conversions around but rarely for sale, and as discussed chucking a engine into a lower than GTI model isnt worth it. Its a shame as id expect it to be quite good fun as a mk3 still has a fair amount of the feel and directness of a mk2 but with the bonus of the refinement and build of a newer model.
VR for £1k + 1.5K of charger = happy days and far faster than a 150hp mk4 for similar money.
dave
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