1.8 carb which would be better?

I have a 89 clipper 1.8 carb. It currently has a weber carb, k & N panel filter and super sprint high flow back box.

I'm trying to decide what to do next. i have around £200 to spend and have roughly costed both options to around the same figure.

Option 1: S/H Gti cam, S/H Gti manifold, new gti downpipe, new supersprint centre section ( the one with no silencers) and replace the tappets at the same time as there a little noisey.

Option 2: Fit the gti 2.0 8v block and facet pump i already have at work, along with new cambelt kit, head gasket set, reface of head, clutch kit (as its out), tsr dizzy ring.

(Also i have a lower strut brace and believe this may get in the way with the tall block? i dont want to get rid of that as it handles so much better with it)

Im not trying to make a GTi or get 15bhp increase or anything, just im realy happy with the difference in performance by what ive allready done and would like a little more.

Your thoughts and ideas would be great.

Do all of it! If you've got the 2.0 block, get a second hand GTI head and slap it on. It'll have the hotter GTI cam in it already and also got slightly larger valves than what you're running, plus the added capacity and torque of the 2.0 block should be reet good fun. It's what I'm slowly on my way to doing. If you get lucky you might be able to find a second hand ported head, but if not don't worry the GTI head will still be pretty good.

Ooh you'll need to block up the injector holes if you use a carb on the GTi head; can be done with 4 one penny pieces.

thats true, unfortunately i cant afford to do both,well at least for 6-9months  :cry: Thanks for idea tho!

Well im going down the option 1 for now. Got exhaust system sorted and new tappets. Just need to fit it and get the gti cam. Maybe i can get  a gti head next year and put that on the 2.0 block.

downpipe can be swapped on later, luckily its easy with engine in n a mk1. worst case remove the roll bar to drop it out

ok so its not realy too much of a big deal   well I have managed to get gti head and cam so am stretching my budget for the head, to do reface and new head set,.

i can always do the bottom end next year

 so hopefully just sort out injector hole and fit it all on.

is there anything else i need to do/modify to the gti head? im using Weber carb :-)

just block the holes off and you're done. if you had a 2e2 you would need to drill a hole for the coolant chanel, but weber doesnt need it

ok Thanks john!

P.S i must say your contributions throughout the forum are most helpful!

Thanks for all your input!

entersoundman said

ok Thanks john!

P.S i must say your contributions throughout the forum are most helpful!

Thanks for all your input!

I second that motion

Just an update for anyone who is in the same position I was in. All work was completed with this mod last year.

Very happy with the increase in performance!!!

Just to clarify what was done: Recon gti head (manual tappets) and cam, gti manifold (twin pipe), new gti twin downpipe, supersprint straight through centre pipe, bolt on k&n filter, weber carb, and super print high flow backbox

The difference in 0-60, torque, fuel consumption is better. So much so, im not bothering to put the 2.0 block on in future.

I have timed it with an iphone app and stop watch and allowing for lots of error im always getting well under 9.0 secs (before 10.5/11) I can now drive in higher gears at lower speeds. For example 2000 revs in 5th is 64/5mph now where as before it was 57/8mph

fuel consumptions is about 3mpg better average.

This has definitely made a big improvement to performance and hasn't cost a lot in my opinion ( with all the extra parts i.e. cambelt, headgasket set, stretch bolts,oil fitler ect about 550.

so I would recommend it, if you got a clipper don't sell it, do this.  

Glad it has worked out for you mate. Sounds like a decent mod to do for various reasons.

What''s the plan now then? Leave it alone and drive it or fiddle some more?

Thanks  

Well engine wise, leave it alone. Not looking for anymore power.

 It handles better than when I first got it - put gas shocks and lowering springs all round and front lower strut brace. But still room for improvement by modern standards anyway.

 So few upgrades/mods for this Just ordered some super pro anti roll bar bush kits for front and rear and front engine mount bush.

Got a top fill radiator to go in and replace all coolant hose clips.

A few cosmetic things to do, tailgate lock seal, new carpet for boot and make a spare wheel cover. Want to make a cover to replace the scuttle panel cover. Possibly paint the underside of the bonnet.

OH and wire in a amp and fit a sub  

That's about it for the next few months  

Planning on going to RTTS

the extra torque you get down low from the 2.0 block is definitely worth the hassle, trust me on that one. best mod i ever did on my mk2 GTI until the abf went in

but tbh, use it for a couple years then when you get bored drop the abf in its way better

rubjonny said

the extra torque you get down low from the 2.0 block is definitely worth the hassle, trust me on that one. best mod i ever did on my mk2 GTI until the abf went in

but tbh, use it for a couple years then when you get bored drop the abf in its way better

Well backtracking slightly, I've still got the block so I haven't written it off completely but for the near future any way.

Yeah I thought id use it like it is and see if I get bored eventualy   Its really only for cruising. Me diesels gives me the torque rush  

well think hard about which way you want to go, but yeah 1.8->2.0 you really will love the extra torques especially in a light car like yours.

in my mk2 i preferred the 2.0 8v to a 1.8 16v (yes i had both!) but the abf wins hands down

It would be fairly quick mod to just do the block and fuel pump ect. But maybe if an abf engine comes along it might tempt me!