Engine-gearbox compatability

Hi,

Great website.

I know this question has been asked a number of times but I need some info and advice on fitting a 1.6 mk1 carb motor to my 1.1 76 Golf. I know i have to move the r/h engine mount but my question is will the 1600 motor fit to my old 4 speed gearbox with no mods?
Also what this i read about having to change the steering rack?
Please can someone help.
Thanks

Short and sweet anser is NO, it won't fit.

You also need to change the steering rack because the Gti spec rack has brackets mounted on it that are needed to hold some of the gear selection mechanism, which is different to your current set-up (So you need all of this too - Gear shifter and all gear selection rods).

The list of parts needed is quite long which is why people say it is not worth the effort to convert non-gti to gti, unless you have a complete donor car, as I did.
Easiest thing to do is to try and find a crashed, rotten Mk1 for ?100 quid or so, something that is beyond resurrection. That way you can take all of the small parts you need.

AL.

100% agree there Al.
 get a donor.

You will also have to upgrade to the larger rad and 12mm calipers as well as the gearbox, selector rods, starter motor and mounting bracket. Not forgetting the brake servo as the 1.1 did not have one!

Thanks for all the replies, the motor i am fitting is not out of a GTI though, its just a standard 1600 carburettor engine from a mk1 GLS or something so will this fit in easier?.
Would appreiciate any more advice.
Thanks

The above is all true for carb or injection, the engine packaging is more or less the same. Changing to injection means further upgrades to fuel tank, fuel lines, injection pump, filter, air plate, electrics, brakes, suspension, wheels, etc, etc.

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice you guys, I think i will just recondition the old 1100 motor and maybe bore it out and fit bigger valves etc.
Finding any mk1 GTI's out here in New Zealand is like finding hens teeth let alone a scrap one.
Whats your advice on an upgrade for the 1100 motor?
How far can you bore them out?
What carbs would you suggest? or could i just rejet the old one?
Any advice again would be great.
Thanks

A 1600cc carb conversion is a little easier than Injection as you dont have to worru about the fuel tank/pump and associated wiring, though you would still need to change the steering rack and all of the gear selection rods.

Changing the gearbox would also mean changing the drive shafts, which is something we left out above! You can see what I meant about the list becoming rather long!

As for tuning the 1100cc lump, there is really not much you can do to it unless you spend a LOT of money on race spec internals.
You could get a set of Weber twin 40 carbs and a suitable manifold (There are manifolds available for the 1300cc - I think the 1100cc is the same fittment). It would sound nice, though I doubt the performance gain would be staggering!

Let us know what you decide to do…

Hi,

Thanks again for the advice, i thought this would be an easy swap, but obviously not.
Will think over my options before i make a decision.
I may have the chance of buying a mk1 82 1600 complete which i think maybe  better project, otherwise i will have to stick with the 1100 and just cruise instead of speed!!!
Will keep you posted on my decision.
Thanks.

Hi

I managed to buy an 83 Mk1 series 2 1600 GX, i think this will be a better project car as i dont have to modify the mounts etc.
The series 1 will make a good parts donor car but i hve just noticed the the front door hinges are different, can these be changed?
Any advice on mods for the 1600 engine woud be great.
Thanks.

Do you have Polo's in NZ? I have a mk3 Polo 1300 in mine. If you can find a GT, then you've got 75hp.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply, no there are no Polos out here only late model ones 95 on type.
Managed to get that 1600 GX MK1 1983 series 2 now, so i will be fitting the motor, box, s/rack and brake servo out of that i think as the body is not to good on it.
Does any one know if the dash out of the series 2 MK1 will fit into my series 1 MK1? it looks like it will.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks