Engine Conversions

So my Golf is a 1981 Golf N, it has the 1.1 engine and 4 speed box.

What engine conversions are possible with this setup? From what I have read you cant do as 'simple' a swap as if it was a 1.3 or a GTI because the 1.1 uses different mounts.

Would putting a 20vt into the car be more-or-less the same as putting a GTI into it? I.e having to make mounts? (By which I mean the mechanical means not the wiring or fuelling).

Also, what do people do about driveshaft lengths when these conversions are carried out? Is it pure coincidence that the driveshaft lengths are the same and no shortening  needs to happen?

you need to move the mount from the small block position to the large block position if you want to use a larger engine such as the 1.8, regardless of it being a GTI or a 20v etc.

1.3 use the same mounts as the 1.1.
G40 lump would drop into the 1.1 mounts, just the gearbox mount to sort out, easily done, cut them in half and weld together the section of polo and golf mounts together.

driveshafts depend on what box you use and its not lengths but size of CV's/hubs that cause a problem.

for my 20v conversion, i've used the 02J box with 100mm flanges, with 100mm driveshafts into the later cabby 100mm hubs.
saves the faff of turning down the 100mm shafts into the 90mm hubs.

So your saying that the engine bays and all the captive nuts, bracket holes and dimensions are the same throughout the Mk1 Golf series, its just the positioning of the mounts that changes them from a small and big block.

Pretty chuffed about that!

IIRC G40 engines are quite hard to come across now. Would using a G40 engine and gearbox require driveshaft work?

will hunt out some pics later to show you what i mean with the mounting position, or alternatively if you have a mk1 to look at, look at the diverside chassis leg, you'll see the notches where the mounts are welded to.

g40 box you'll get to keep the 90mm driveshafts.

Lots of info on engine conversions in the technical section on your left hand side.

1.4 16v on oem management is what i would do in your shoes. relatively simple and gives good power & economy, plus still keep it in lower tax bracket and somewhat original by retaining small blockness