Whats the easiest engine conversion for a Golf 1.1?

I want to do an engine conversion to get some extra power, but i want to know what the easiest (Time+Money+Less Mechanical parts changed the better) conversion is. I have been offered a 1.6 Mk2 Driver (For free), but also i have been told a 1.3 GT engine is a simple swap. Both give out 75bhp. If anyone with experience knows anything about swapping these engines, please can you give me any advice. Also if anyone knows any better engines. And please i don't want loads of replys telling me to put a 1.8 16V engine in, lol.

Neva swapped a engine (yet), but the polo gt lump, would be your best bet, if you can find one :wink:

tax-wise at least.
although there are soooo many available 1.6 lumps..
1.8 8v lumps are reasonable too.

The easiest option for "Time+Money+Less Mechanical parts changed the better" would be to fit a 1.3 Carb engine, seriously!

When I was looking to do something similar, I couldn't find enough information to convince me to go for the Polo GT engine option, I never looked deep into the GT's electrics, plus with it being fuel injection, you would need to alter your fueling setup slighty to provide more pressure.

The GT engine will go in with no problems but the 5 speed gearbox wont as the mounts need to be altered, namely the n/s gearbox mount as you need to use the GT gearbox side of the mount, with your 4 speed chassis leg mount and cut and weld them together correctly, so it all lines up right.

You could however use your 1.1 gearbox and maybe come out with a little more acceleration than what you would have with the GT 5 speed.

Note with the 5 speed gearbox you will need to play about with linkage components from both the Polo and Golf to get it to select 5th and work well.

It's not to put you off this option but if you have the equipment and knowledge to hand to create the mount then you are halfway they to having a 5 speed gearbox.

Maybe you could even go with bolting your carb (albeit get a 1.3 version/weber as it will have a slightly bigger ventuir) with manifold onto the GT block and do away with the fuel injection side of things. I dont know where that would leave you with ignition timing as I dont know how it is electronic or mechanical on the GT?


Mk2 1.6 carb engine, well at least it's still carb, so you wont have to worry about fueling that much nor the ignition (apart from using the coil from the 1.6 with one or two other bits), I dont know if you have the same gearbox issues with a Mk2 gearbox (020?) although I think then you come into using Mk1 GTI mounts all around anyway (all 4, front, back and both sides). With the 1.6 being a 'big' engine, you will need to get out your chissel and hammer/1mm cutting disc and carefully remove the o/s engine mount welded to the chassis leg and rotate, then move it back to the 'big engine position' a bit further up the leg and reweld. (This will set you up for fitting any other bigger engine in the future 1600cc+). Note that you will also require a GTI steering rack and a 5 speed gear linkage all from a Mk1.

Dont forget the exhaust system for any option, you might be able to get away with a Mk1 GTI system, especially for the 1.6, though you would need a reducing sleeve for use with the GT engine (so long as you get the downpipe).

Or you could just fit a 1.8/2.0 16v AND, yes AND convert to fuel injection like I did. But that goes well against the "Time+Money+Less Mechanical parts changed the better".

Insurance is a factor you will have to look into as well.

1.1 - 1.3 Carb took me about 3 hrs.  Appart from having to source a new rad to replace the one I accidentaly swung the new enigne through!

TT

gotta polo gt i have been meaning to take to pieces for about the last three years, if you give me 100 pounds sterling i will remove the engine (96000 miles, good runner) loom, ecu, pump, gearbox and everything else you will need including 5 speed g/box mount, all you will need is five speed selector arms/linkage,
let us know if you are interested and ill get it all together,
cheers,
paul

I would be interested in the GT lump.  Where are you based?


TT

ayup mate, i think someones buying it, if not ill get back to you, im a fair old drive from you in south yorkshire,
cheers,
paul

Better than kent or devon!!

Let me know..

Ta

TT

Do you know of a GT lump in Devon? Anychance you could post details!! I need to get my mk1 back on the road as i have a mk3 cortina as a daily driver at the mo & i fear for my own safey!!

Well the option im going for is a 1.3 with a webber carb, by far the esiest option,  the GT conversion would be a nigtmare, i would think it would be eisier to fit the full Mk1 GTI lump, as at least every thing would be plug and play, where as the polo GT lump would have a different loom, all brackets would be different, the only thing that makes this conversion sound easy is that the engine mount is in the same place!

Get a 1.3 fit a webber, get a nice cam, and 4-1 manifold, and your there! thats plug and play, and could be fitted in a weekend!

What are you talking about?  Explain plz…

I have a Polo GT engine in my Mk1 Golf and it was pure simplicity - because…

All the brackets are in the same place, you can use the loom, coil, ignition amp and dizzy from a late model Mk2 Golf 1.3/Mk2 Polo and you only have to connect ONE WIRE (don't even have to solder anything - just push ignition switched live wire into connector at the coil pack).

Fuel system?  Well the inlet manifold pattern is the same as all other 1.1/1.3 engines so use an inlet manifold off one with a twin choke down draft carb off something like a Vauxhall Nova SR or Ford Fiesta XR2.  Use the Mk1 Gearbox with the GT clutch.  Use the Mk1 starter motor, alternator and entire loom - just bolts up - easy as pie - mmmmm pie.

Exhaust - mate Polo or Golf (doesnt matter - they are the same) manifold upto a pre-79 VW Derby front pipe (about ?30 brand new) and that into the flexi of the Mk1 Golf exhaust.

Like I say, I've done this conversion on mine (indeed I pioneered this conversion in the UK) and have since helped with others.  Big power is possible as there is a 4-1 tubular manifold available, piper do a range of cams and VW themselves did a twin DCOE manifold (which is what I'm running on mine - it ripps!!).

90bhp is easy, seen 110bhp on a standard Pierburg carb from one, 130bhp reliably is possible, most I've ever seen was 142bhp out of one - plus cheap tax to boot!  Get it done!!!

so your not using the injection system?

Have you ever fitted the injection system?

The injection system off that one ended up on a Mk3 golf 1.4 to replace the single point.

It's a dead easy setup if you get the loom and ECU - not much wiring to do at all.  It's got a MAF sensor in the airbox though so you need to make sure you fit the injection airbox.

Other than that you need a fuel tank and pump from a GTI to provide enough fuel pressure and bob's your uncle.

If you get a setup without the ECU and loom you can just as easity run it on Megasquirt.  I know someone who took this route with a Mk2 Polo and it was fairly plain sailing - used the Skoda 1.6 bottom end with GT inlet manifold and multipoint injectors hooked up to the Megasquirt DIY-ECU kit.

but this would be a lot more difficult, tbh i cant see any point in converting it and then usng the carb, and deffo not with a pierburg!!

Oh - okay then.

So you suggest fitting a Mk1 GTI lump instead?  'coz that way you have to cut the offside chassis rail and weld a big block one in.  You STILL have to fit the fuel tank and pump, injection system, wiring loom, etc plus with the GT conversion you can use the original gearbox, diff, gearlinkage, exhaust, inlet manifold, carburettor, driveshafts, etc which you have to change for the Mk1 GTI engine.

Plus the GT engine is better designed.  It runs stronger valve train, better timing gear and a far superior oil pump and system.  These things will sit at 7000 rpm all day long without fail.  AND they have a far better cylinder head design with crossflow manifolding rather than the v.poor reverse port head on the GTI lump.

I'm not saying fitting a GTI engine in a small block mk1 can't be done - of course it can (I have done 8v and 16v transplants into these shells in the past).  I'm just saying that the EASIEST way to big power is to bolt in a GT engine and away you go…

If you can make 107bhp on the Pierburg, imagine what you'd do on twin Webers.  That was just an example of how strong and tractable these engines are without spending big money and just using bits you have lying around…

There is a little more info on my specific conversion and the parts I used here - http://www.performancevwmag.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33243

the fact is that the GT engine never came as a carb (unles you mean the European Mk2 polo that was badged up as a coupe S here), so fitting the engine itself may be easy, but running it on injection wouldent be a simple task, as you would have to cut and change the wiring to connect it to the mk1 fuse box, and this IMHO is the whole point of fitting it! ok so your running yours on twin carbs wich is nice, but thirsty!

in the long run, if you are fitting the GT engine as a complete unit its more hastle than fitting the GTI lump and at the end and you only end up with a 1.3, hence why i said the GTI lump would be a better option

Mine returns 33mpg if you drive it normally.

…and 18 if you kick it's head in!! - lol

AxlFoley said

the fact is that the GT engine never came as a carb (unles you mean the European Mk2 polo that was badged up as a coupe S here), so fitting the engine itself may be easy, but running it on injection wouldent be a simple task, as you would have to cut and change the wiring to connect it to the mk1 fuse box, and this IMHO is the whole point of fitting it! ok so your running yours on twin carbs wich is nice, but thirsty!

in the long run, if you are fitting the GT engine as a complete unit its more hastle than fitting the GTI lump and at the end and you only end up with a 1.3, hence why i said the GTI lump would be a better option

only end up with 1.3…..hmm..

cheaper tax, better fuel consumption, better performance for less…

er……whats the better option.. ?