Rabbit L with 1.7 engine..no typo..read my novel.

Hello Gents and Ladies,

I just stole for $200 a rabbitL 5 sp manual with, what i can tell from research, has a 1.7L engine with CIS FI. Runs sweet, plenty of pull from what I can tell is a not too common engine to you guys across the pond.(who have VW options and parts raining from the sky *sigh*) It seems to be a kind of rare in between model that was better than base but not GTI

Check it out in the intro forums: http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…ms&file=viewtopic&t=18997

I'm looking for ways to get more power, and I've got a few bucks to throw at it, plus a VERY well equiped shop at the dad's business (3 racks, all the tools/power you could want. Puts midas to shame. (if you guys have midas over there.) I've rebuilt a jag v12 and a slew of work on various american stuff, and after the Jag's CRAPPY ENGINEERING (no offense to the english, just to jag), the VW seems like a dream to work on, so you shouldn't have to dumb down too much stuff for me to get it.

On to the good stuff!

I have access to:

The above formentioned car.

Some cash for engine parts

A ton of junkyards, including a VW specialist one! With a guy that is reknowned in this part of the country for older VW knowledge.

A rebuilt diesel engine of the same era, just the bottom end for $275, or heads and all for like $500ish. Still fresh and out of the car.

A junker VW diesel that's like a year older, car is junk but engine is supposed to be good.



Now i'd love to either rebuild this engine really nice, or get another block and start building while driving the car. I really hate to just put a 1.8 in there from a GTI becasue they're a bit pricier, pretty sought after, and I'd like to make my car more unique.

Here are some things i'm considering:

Starting with a diesel block and running it as a gas engine with gas heads, etc. I don't know ANYTHING about VW, but a lot of american cars had diesel blocks that were beefier, thicker cast with better rods/etc but could be built into gas and therefore turboed and could better handle the boost. Cutlasses and 442's in the late 60's were known for this, with 350 diesel to gas engine conversions with a blower on top. I read that a diesel block needs a bellhousing or similiar change to mate witht he gas 5 speed tranny, which i love.

Just rebuilding this engine and putting better parts on it. But i can't find any standard parts. Like performance heads, or cams, or intakes, other than swapping off of other models. But i need to know what models, etc.

Getting another engine, building it up sweet with whatever i can, including a super/turbo charger if i can, while i drive this one. But i need all your guys' knowledge on the best route.

Ideally i'd like to get to like 130-150hp, while my current engine has about 75 stock, or so i read. Maybe like 78 now that that catalytic converter mysteriously vanished….

Open to lots of ideas! I would like to keep it VW, so even though i'm american, no links to chevy 350 drop ins (what car DOESNT take one now?) or the infamous GM 3800 series hookup (although the supercahrged factory version did drop about 220 horses)


Open to ideas and thanks for reading so much!

http://cgi.ebay.com/eb…33615QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I could be all about that. I hate to drive to NC< but it's prolly nice this time of year. What else besides the engine would i need?


I can tell this is a hobby that's going to have my GF calling an intervention

Best way for a reliable 150bhp is a 2.0l 16V, there's a couple of tweaks which would bring it up to 165bhp or so. Whichever 16V you go for, its a bit more complicated than an 8V upgrade because you'd need to source a conversion manifold and route the fuel lines to the other side of the car. It may be that USA never received VW models with this engine in it, though? It was found in Passat GT and GL, and Corrado. Also, wasn't there a Mk2 with a 2l 16V as stock? Also it was in some 90s Audi 80s.

The other options are 1.8 16V (KR engine) (loads of cars) and short block 2 litre 8V, again more popular. You could go to G60 (did USA ever get these?) but its more work, more money and higher power.

interesting.
 i wonder if it's the same engine in the seat ibiza system porche?
 i would presume that all the same mods will apply as to the 1.6 or 1.8 gti (cis) depending on what head it is based on. not sure if it's a stroked 1.6 or an under bored 1.8. i think it's the later. if so, all the mods should be exactly the same as for the 1.8 cis mk1's. does it run ke-jet or k-jet??

ooh. sorry just saw the 16v bit.

 slow typer and lazy reader :roll:

Thanks for the info guys!

I'm not to knowledgeable about vw engine models and sub models, etc. But i've not noticed anything in the states about these G60's, but there might be an equiv. I'll do some research. Not sure about my engine code yet, going back to work on the car tonight, and i'll have finer info on what i have under the hood, as far as kejet or k-jet. In fact i don't know what that means, except that it's prolly fuel related. More reading for me.

I was trying to stay with an engine that will almost "bolt up" to what i have and modding it, but if i got an engine like the 16v above for cheap, i could be coaxed into doing that instead of building up some half diesel half gas turboed engine.

I'm assuming with the 16v conversion i have to move a computer over as well with some weird wiring? Moving fuel lines shouldn't bee too much trouble, with the rack to use and all.

by source a manifold do you mean have one custom made or find one from some other model or mod the correct one?

I'll go read the 16v conversion board

There's loads of tuning firms in the USA which will sell a conversion manifold, this is probably the biggest single costing 'extra part' required. There's lots of other fiddly little stuff you'd need, I'm in the middle of a 16V conversion but I've done a whole lot more than simply take one engine out and stuff another in - like I've tidied up the engine bay and done pretty much a top end rebuild on the new engine. Also its a 2 litre, which means I need to source a couple of other bits from a 1.8 16V to make everything work.

"A2 G60
Although cars like the Rallye Golf and Golf Limited enjoyed VW's forced induction, the U.S. never saw the G60 used in the Golf chassis."

Suck. I bet 60's pontiac 400's and 455 ci engines are rare and expensive over there, and i have two. Such is supply and demand.

In fact, if anyone is over in the states, i so would trade my 74 455 engine for a sweet vw one :-D

I plan on doing the same. Coating the engine bay, cleaning up and scrubbing all components. And if the engine is  cheap enough, full rebuild, bearings, seals, pistons rings, oil pump, the whole 9 yards. I'm a bit obsessive compulsive, so when i rebuild an engine you can eat off of it. At least until some jackass spills oil on it while doing a change  :roll:  I want everything clean and nice and sporty also.

What is the price range for this manifold? 250$? 750? That's going to be the deterimining factor, behind engine availability. I really like the idea of running the 1.7 while i build another one on the stand. Especially since the 1.7 has great compression (125psi all cylinders) and runs strong. Doing more conversion research now.

Thanks again for info!

ok..now here might be gold: a 1.8 gti engine, about an hour from my house, 57k on it. $150. Can you guys shed some light on if this is the beast i seek? (Even though it's 8v and a gti and everyone does this switch)

http://cgi.ebay.com/eb…ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also, what else can be done with this engine? 100hp is ok, but i hate to do an engine swap and work for a 25hp upgrade. Is there a common path to get me closer to 135-135hp with this engine?

Thanks again everyone for indulging my VW fever.

OK guys, made some decisions, moving to the modifications thread. Thanks to everyone for the info!