Advice - Engine conversion.

Hi All,

I use the Cabby as a daily pretty much. Don't clock many miles having said that, and it is my main car as I normally commute for work via train. .

As much as I love driving it in its current state (1.8 ), the lack of power is bothering me and I feel I would enjoy it more if it had more of a kick.

I know there's been quite few pros and con about engine conversion. But I was hoping if someone could give some pointers for the different engine conversions you can go and I guess what the benefit is like etc etc.

Typically I can see 1.8T is a popular choice amongst the MK1 scene, and I am potentially more drawn to it. But I was wondering what the other engine conversions are like and their potential benefits are.

If I am going to go ahead with an engine conversion I would most likely chose Crazy Quiffs. They maybe bit expensive but their work looks good quality, also I don't want any teething problems if I was to go with a local garage.  

Would appreciate some feedback and guidance from the fellow peers who have the wisdom!

Thanks all

I'm in the same boat as you - the cabi can feels a little under powered.

I really don't want a turbo, so I'm trying the avoid the 20VT which makes it difficult. The 9A and ABF are getting rare R32 seems like a bit of a monster.

Lots of very knowledgable people here, so hopefully they'll chime in.

I thought Crazy Quiff's quite reasonably priced. Bit of a waiting list though.

My thoughts on the subject which i dont expect anyone to agree with. KR 16v only 1.8 and too small. 9A has a poor conrod length,  Abf rectified this but its still a narrow bore long stroke engine. Turbo range is ok but all that pipework/intercooler, not for me. V6 range are just too heavy.  Forget VAG,  FIT A K20 Honda engine , 8000 rpm (reliably i believe) and 200 bhp which sounds like fun in the lighter mk1 golf.. Obviously no parts are available for this,  although it has been done..

Info an engine conversions

Engine Conversions - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club


I'm in the camp of, if you want to go faster, buy a faster car…. Mk5 Golf Gti are coming down in price and will probably be future classics, they have big brakes, ABS, traction control etc…. lots of other faster cars out there for less money than it's going to cost you to swap the engine or for best "go for your £" buy a motor bike..

You can only go as fast as the speed limit or traffic in front of you…

At the end of the day it's your car and your money so it's up to you.  

abfmk1 said

My thoughts on the subject which i dont expect anyone to agree with. KR 16v only 1.8 and too small. 9A has a poor conrod length,  Abf rectified this but its still a narrow bore long stroke engine. Turbo range is ok but all that pipework/intercooler, not for me. V6 range are just too heavy.  Forget VAG,  FIT A K20 Honda engine , 8000 rpm , 200 bhp sounds like fun, obviously no parts are available for this,  although it has been done..

I couldn't agree more having owned a 05 k20A ep3 honda civic type r it ran 240bhp and is the best 2 litre n/a engine ive ever driven .my mk1 golf is currently sorn due to head gasket .if i had the money this would be my ultimate conversion. Mk1 golf cabriolet with 2litre k20A in the front beauty and the beast

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Have you thought about tuning the engine in it?

My 1.8 cabby on a carb is more than powerful enough to break the speed limits and out accelerate most new cars. That might be due to most new car owners having difficulty actually pressing the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor however……..  

Stick a set of twin carbs on it and gain 20% more power. Easy and it sounds far better too!

BTW small blocks are the way forward. Anything else is just wrong!

149 bhp from my 1400cc and it's lighter than a big block so both the kerb weight and the handling are better  

Ian

abfmk1 said

…9A has a poor conrod length,  Abf rectified this but its still a narrow bore long stroke engine…

But compared to standard GTI 1.8?
Assuming the Honda was too complex a project, what would you go for?

mark1gls said

I'm in the camp of, if you want to go faster, buy a faster car…
You can only go as fast as the speed limit or traffic in front of you…
 

I know what you mean, but I'm not after huge gains. Just enough to get the cabi up to tin-top acceleration. Top speed isn't an issue - I usually trundle along the 303 at 60. My steering gets wibbly at about 85-90 anyway.

borednow said

Have you thought about tuning the engine in it?
Stick a set of twin carbs on it and gain 20% more power. Easy and it sounds far better too!

Interesting… any disadvantages?

borednow said

BTW small blocks are the way forward. Anything else is just wrong!
149 bhp from my 1400cc and it's lighter than a big block so both the kerb weight and the handling are better  

Is it still torquey, or is it a 149 BHP at 12000RPM sort of setup?

ABF every time. kept on fuel injection, if satisfied with an easy 150 bhp..

Yeah a nicely breathing abf for old school simplicity. 

20vt because, it's easy, they're pretty modern, and they're blooming good engines. I did a mk2 with a 20vt, it was delightful, not overpowered in the slightest.

A G40 if you wanna go small block… standard. 

Curveball pd130, best engine I've ever had in a golf, albeit a mk2, but pound for pound, you can't beat them. 

Definitely ABF over 9A?

Someone said the reduced rod angle only really becomes apparent at relatively high rpm on highly tuned engines.

Twin carb disadvantages? Just the fact that finding a good set can be expensive, although probably less than the overall cost of an engine conversion. They also need to be tuned properly and will need to be fiddled with on occasion. I normally have my cars MOT's and tuned at the same time by the local garage.

Small block 16v have little in the way of torque. Fine though but yep you do have to change gear a bit more often. More of a drivers car than a pootle along mobile.

G40's explode quite a lot though           

One day I will turn the small block afh motor in the shed into a supercharged afh………….

Ian

borednow said

Small block 16v have little in the way of torque, you do have to change gear a bit more often, explode quite a lot.

Have you ever thought of a career in sales?  

In some ways the reduced weight is very attractive. Maybe if I get a mk2 for the winters that would be the way to go.

abfmk1 said

ABF every time. kept on fuel injection, if satisfied with an easy 150 bhp..

Second this,
I have a pal who has a 1.3 converted Mk1 to ABF on twin 40's,

Needs setting up twice a year due to air temp changes and no choke and runs badly for most of that time, yes it sounds nice and goes well but should of been left injected.

Guy down the road doing some welding for me has a 9A converted Mk2 as a daily and it runs lovely, probably 20bhp less than the Mk1 but it starts every morning

Anyone used a Polo / Lupo GTI 1.6 16v 125bhp lump in a Mk1??

I guess 9A/ABF is what I am look for then.

I was looking at a refurbished 9A. Quite expensive, but I'm not knowledgable enough to source one and do it myself. People are generally happy with the 9A or should I wait and get an ABF?

WATERNAIR said

Anyone used a Polo / Lupo GTI 1.6 16v 125bhp lump in a Mk1??

The 1.6 top end isn't great and the engines aren't that strong. They were a bit of a VW mash up. Not well thought out apparently.

The polo boys seem to like using the bottom ends of these and sticking the 1.4 afh head on the top.

Lots more work but up 200 bhp apparently!

There is a 1.6 8v small block engine as well. Came in later (9N i think) polos. It's a longer block apparently so will still fit with no issues but gives a better torque range than the valver engines.

Ian

the_whip said

I guess 9A/ABF is what I am look for then.

I was looking at a refurbished 9A. Quite expensive, but I'm not knowledgable enough to source one and do it myself. People are generally happy with the 9A or should I wait and get an ABF?

You should fit what you are happy with. For me i think if vw went to the trouble to cast another block (abf) a few mm taller so longer conrods could be used thats good enough for me.

What about the ABF bottom end with the 2.0l beetle top end sat back to front trick that I've heard about?

abfmk1 said

You should fit what you are happy with. For me i think if vw went to the trouble to cast another block (abf) a few mm taller so longer conrods could be used thats good enough for me.

Yeah, I see what you mean. Just need to decide if I want to carry on the search for an ABF, or have a 9A going within a few weeks.