engine swap for reliabiltity NOT performance gains!

Hi all,

whats the most reliable and practical engine swap out there for a daily driver?

got around a ?1000 to spend- maybe a few hundred more just in case.

i've got a good mate who's done a few swaps before so thats option 1:

spend money on an fancy engine (1.8T 20V etc) and do the swap ourselves

OR

option 2: get a Boggo recon engine and have it professionally installed

the car (series 2) has standard GTI engine, box, etc….any other bits i'l need to consider?

hows the clutch going to fare uip with the increase in power?

cheers,

Rick

The VW engine itself is normally very reliable. Its normally electrics, fuel or transmission problems, which cause unreliability. For example a common issue is the fuel filler neck rusting, allowing rust and dirt into the fuel system, which clogs filters and stops the car running, or worse. Another example is the wiring going brittle over time (heat under the bonnet, etc) and breaking, or connections corroding. Gearboxes wear out, known weaknesses are the 2nd gear syncro and 5th gear in general.

None of the above, is going to be changed by swapping the engine.

If your engine has an internal fault such as worn rings, or leaking valve stem seals, then by all means look to change (or recondition) it. But the base engine really isn't that big a problem in the Mk1 Golf.

Main thing is to keep on top of the servicing, make sure fluid levels are kept topped up, and see to problems (funny/unusual noises, etc) as soon as possible rather than letting them become an issue where you'd break down.

A well maintained DX is about as reliable as engines got. Simple electronic ignition, no cat or 02 sensors or complicated electricery. If all vac pipes are sound and the basics correct, dizzy cap and leads etc all you need to do is change the oil every 10K costing @?15 and enjoy 35mpg

Hmm…interesting stuff there, thanks

I'm looking to create a solid MK1 that i can depend on as a daily driver (and more!) so i want to try and get all niggles sorted out.

i've not yet found the right car but the sort of car's i'm looking at mostly have full body resto's, am i right in thinking that as long as the fuel lines are clear when i buy it that the rusty filler issue won't be a problem?

as for the electrics.., what can be done here to improve reliability?

same for the box?…anything possible here…swap maybe?

ta!

That was also my requirement..

not only did I want reliabilty.. I wanted modern efficency and smoothness.. etc..

Decided a 2.0 abf conversion running on digifant was the way to go.

Amit

cheers amit,

funny… was looking at a 2.0 l bottom end conversion recently in a MK1 i was considering buying ,am i right in thinking this is a MK3 engine?…what was your doner car?

how much did the swap cost?

and how much have you spent since…any problems?!?

who did the swap for you?

sorry about barrage of questions!

rick

Hello mate..

I havent finished the conversion but I am going to do it myself.

Its a fairly easy swap.

Engine cost ?350 from a mk3 gti 16v

using the exisiting gti gearbox in the mk1

The only other thing you will need is a suitable exhaust manifold for which I am suing a ?200 raceland one from ebay.

everything else is mk1 gti parts.

Amit

thanks for the info,

sound sweet!

is your MK1 a daily-driver then?

whats made you feel like you need to swap?

ta

rick

Its actually a caddy.

My daily driver was lovely smooth Audi A4 but now my wife uses it more than i do leaving me with the caddy.

I work in the city tho so dont really use it much..

i just got fed up of the lack of refinement from the older engines… easy start, smooth power delivery etc.

Amit

Amit said

Its actually a caddy.

My daily driver was lovely smooth Audi A4 but now my wife uses it more than i do leaving me with the caddy.

I work in the city tho so dont really use it much..

i just got fed up of the lack of refinement from the older engines… easy start, smooth power delivery etc.

Amit

Easy starting and smooth power delivery are down to the fuel injection system mainly. Basically, a modern car has a much more sophisticated FI system which provides the correct flow of fuel and ignition timing, under all conditions, by measuring many more parameters than before - eg coolant temp, oil temp, throttle position, airflow, anti-knock sensors, etc. Many engine conversions (eg 2 litre 8V, any 16V) would probably retain the K-Jet mechanical fuel injection, or more accurately most but not all parts of it (missing idle control, warm up regulation, for example). If they did retain them, they'd not be optimised for smooth running or starting, but maximum power - for example you could use a WUR with a vacuum connection and alter its fuel ratio at full throttle condition, for maximum power. But you'd be left with non-optimal settings at part throttle, etc.

So if you're after smoothness, go for a stock setup from another car such as 150bhp 20vT using the original (unchipped) VW ECU. Or a Digifant, or KE-Jet on a 1.8 or 2 litre. But they're never quite going to be as smooth as in the original car they came from. Also you'd be missing out on a lot of potential power gains too. I suppose you could 'chip' a 20vT or Digifant engine'd Mk1 and retain smoothness with better power too?

Yeah I know its the fuel injection system that is the biggest issue which is why i am switching to digifant.

Some of these K jet systems are getting on to be 20years old. They are no way going to be working to factory specs.

Having said that.. I have just bought a mk1 GTi and I have no idea what the previous owner has done but the engine runs like silk!

I have had loads of mk1 gtis and non have come close to this engine for responce, power delivery and refinement.