Audi S3 engine in a mk1?

Hi there

The engine in my mk1 has given up the ghost, and due to the difficulty of sourcing engine parts here in Ireland, I have decided (I'm sure there are those of you who think this is sacrelige) to put a new engine in.

I am getting quotes from Dubsport and Awesome GTI for an engine conversion to a Audi S3 1.8. I have been told that this will give me about 240 HP. They will be upgrading brakes, suspension and gearbox to boot. My main concern is whether the chassis will be able to take that kind of power. Awesome GTI have assured me that it will, but I would like to make sure. Would anyone have any idea whether the old golfs can withstand this sort of power?

Thanks

sean

how much have they quoted you for all of this ?

cheers.

about 6.5K ex vat for the engine and gearbox. The suspension and brakes are 670 and 650 respectively. Any ideas on the chassis?

:mrgreen:
Yeah, the chassis will take it provided you uprate everything, Susp, bushes throw some braces in and try and get them to fit the traction control because im sure with that power it will be a handfull.

V. expensive but thats only my opinion.

Thanks for that - fingers crossed it'll work

Personally I would sooner buy an S3 and be done with it.

Why change a mk1 to something it isn't?

I think that if you change engine brakes, running gear etc. etc. you have to ask yourself it really a Golf anymore? or just a donor body shell.

Good luck with it all the same.

The car was spending as much time in the garage waiting for parts as it was on the road, so I figured a newer engine would mean an easier time locating parts for it. I suppose at that stage I figured why not put in something with a bit of poke. When they quoted me a golf with 240bhp i suppose I was sold. Totally agree with you that it won't be a golf as such anymore, but the car has had changes made to it before i got it already, electric windows, 4 branch exhaust manifold, alarm, supersprint exhaust etc. It's already no longer the original. Hopefully this will mean more road time!!

It's a great idea and a very popular conversion these days, personally I think 200bhp would be enough, but I have seen one with 300  8O Go for it!

If anything, a modified car will be more hassle than a standard one. Standard Mk1 parts aren't difficult or expensive to obtain, if you go to the right places. You'll no doubt end up using so many mix & match parts that you'll have a nightmare getting a garage to look at it and fix something, if it goes wrong. Are you going to know exactly which parts are original Mk1, which are Mk4 engine, and which are mix & match or custom items?

To be honest Sean its a well covered conversion these days, I cant think of any custom parts that aren't available off the shelf from VW tuning companies.

On the subject of the S3 engine, make sure you ask which engine it is they're quoting for.  There is basically three specs of the recent 20VT engine family.  These run (as standard, give or take), 150bhp, 180bhp, and 225bhp, more if running with aftermarket management/remaps.  Differences include injectors, Inlet Manifolds, Turbo Spec (KO3, KO3S and KO4 repsectively), the 225 has different internals I think, maybe some other bits and bobs.  Its worth noting if you intend to tune it in the future.  

What spec gearbox wise?  Does that price include a LSD? Traction control, hmm that would be nice…My mates' Mk2 20vt is the S3 225bhp lump, on DTA management with no other mods runs 296bhp and 304lb/ft.  Hes got no Diff and its a proper handfull around corners.

As Juz said, most of the more experianced mk1 lads seem to say 200bhp is the most you can really 'use' in a mk1,  so you're going to have grip issues at the best of times with 200+

Go for it mate,  the only thing holding me back is money!  Honestly its not that uncommon these days, just have a look on CGTI, EDition38, the VWVortex etc.  theres a few on here as well, Bens_cab coming to mind first…

Cheers lads- I'll check this stuff out, thanks for the info