BHP???

Here's a Q for everyone, what power output does a standard 1983, 1500 gl golf cabriolet put out and what can realistically be obtained with budget tuning? Cheers, Andy B  :twisted:

I dont know but my diesel had 54 stomping great stallions under the hood!
Bet your jealous  8O
Bert

The standard 1457cc JB engine put out 70PS.

You could get another 5-10PS from a free flow air filter and exhaust. If you have more to spend you might as well buy a GTi and gain 40PS.

Well you see I was given a 1500 GL cabriolet for free the other day and I'm going to do her up. I was considering the 1600 GTi engine and box as a conversion but having read a few threads it would appear that it's not a modification that is supported by many unless it is a complete conversion consiting of all the GTi running gear and as I don't have much cash for this (Due to it being a freebie and me not planning on getting another car) I was only considering the engine and box.  Anyhoo, I have no problems in changing the cam, opening the head up a little, custom building my own exhaust system inc tubular manifold etc for the 1500 as I've built my own engine for my mini in the past including the cam, playing with the head, etc. I managed to gain 16 bhp which considering the original engine had 74 bhp to start, and for the mild modifications to the engine that I made, not to mention this was the first engine I ever stripped with nothing more than a haynes manual to help me, (this engine has not been overbored so is still a 1275cc) I have found a gain of 21.62161% taking overall power up to 90bhp (not bad for less than 1.3!). Thats off the point though, So with what I have read it makes more sence to me to play with the 1500 for now.  I'd love a proper GTi (anyone want to swop or give me another freebie?  :wink: ) but no money and no space currently means I can't. I'd really love to do a V6 conversion, but there you go, Lol! Cheers for the responce, Andy B  :twisted:

gaining between 15% and 20% isn't hard on many engines if you do the right modifications. A lot of it can be done on the more in - more out principle. I did a simelar thing to a metro, 1 litre!! (cash strapped student!), and incrased it from 45bhp, to whopping 54bhp with some simple mods, and changing the carb etc, so it is possible. Never sure how accurate the measurements were, as they were done with a G-tech device which never seems to give the same reading twice!!

Mike.

andy, budget tuning would be doing timing, new air filter (2 quid) good plugs and leads (if ya need em') would roll along nicely! (if nowts borked)  without fannying about to much you could try 2.0 bottom end (mk3) 1.8 head (mk2) keep your old running gear and get a decent carb (all cheap off ebay) always worth setting up what you got right first though.  if its a high-milage job and you have your doubts (burning oil, rough running) get stuck in mate!
cheers,
paul

Cheers paul, so would the 1500 box fit on the 2.0 block or would I require the 2.0 box etc???? Andy B  :twisted:

Hi
Sorry to butt in, but i am wanting to do something similar with my 1.8 carb engine in my 1991 clipper, so would the mark3 bottam end fit with the mrk 2 head, also what more output would i get if this was done, or would you just recommend just getting high lift cam and webber carb for the engine i have got

thanks kenno

the box will fit no prob's

You could try whacking a great big pair of carbs on the original 1500cc engine like I have on my Mk1? I'm not sure it's any more powerful than it was with the standard carb as I bought it like this, but it certainly sounds more powerful…!  

Here's a pic - twin Dellorto 40's, probably give a 1bhp increase in power and a 50db increase in noise!  8O  

I had 40's on a 1500 in mine for a while. went very well, but wouldn't keep up with the Gti's!!!

AL_Mk1 said

I had 40's on a 1500 in mine for a while. went very well, but wouldn't keep up with the Gti's!!!

Heh heh, mine is a 3-speed auto so definitely won't keep up with GTI's! Good fun though