Rebuilding my KR...

So finally got my engine out and I've partly stripped the head. The bottom end dropped a piston and previous i wasn't impressed with the lack of torque. Is the 9a block a good improvement over the standard?

Doing a lot of reading and im thinking:

KR head with ABF cams
9a bottom end

This will be running with weber 45s.

Would appreciate any experienced input

i'd heard the KR cams are the best way to go, but that might be for power rather than torque?

And are you sure it was set up right? Mine pulls like a train once you hit the cam  - especially noticble at around 70-80ish and you plant it  

I drive a tuned VR6 as a daily, it does make the standard KR seem very… wimpy?

But in context i know the KR is quick in a stripped out mk1 but i want more kick. People say the 9a block is a worthwile swap so i was hoping some experienced guys could tell me their experiences

As my KR block is shot anyway i was thinking of selling the parts and picking up a 9a, cant be that expensive?

KR cams make a difference in a 9A.  If running ABF stick with ABF Cams.  I'm not sure if there's any point in putting an ABF head on a 9A block, just slap the whole ABF in there.

If your KR block is shot, then yeah go for a 9A one.  You probably won't make much money from the KR block parts, their worth f-all if i'm honest, especially when you know somethings wrong with it.

Mines a std 9A on KR cams btw.  No complaints.

Which head flows better, the KR or the 9a? I want to go for a high power valver.

Not a clue…CGTI is your best bet for valver specific questions, it's all been covered before on there…

http://www.clubgti.com…um/forumdisplay.php?f=136

head wise there are some differences but not a huge amount. early Kr heads have a more open inlet tract as their isn't a coolant channel running through the port divider.

if you can get a ported and polished one that would see some good gains over a stock 9a / kr or abf head

cams - 9a cams are a bit soft - go for KR or abf ones both will give good gains over the 9a ones.

subtle differnces between the abf ones and kr ones interms of lift / duration - but not sure if anybody has a back to back comparison on the same setup / engine to work out if one set will produce more power or torque than the other.

decent torque increase over a 1.8L by fititng a 2.0L 9a / abf bottom end - won't produce as much torque as a vr due to smaller displacement.

aftermarket cams would be a good option for a high power 16v - more lift more duration and some more overlap as you'd be ditching the digi abf management and cat

for a high power valver you need high compression ( few ways depending on budget to achieve this) lots of revs / and to flow well.

Well currently i have a full KR setup with twin weber 45s. So im thinking just try and pick up a 9a block, get my flywheel lightened and see what i can make.

you have two choices.   9a bottem end is a definate yes. trust me i went from kr to 9a and you notice the diference big time.

head wise  you can either   kr head abf cams(power)
or    9a head kr cams(torque)

all though there is not alot of diference between the head set up.

i myself am running kr head abf cam. mainly coz i already had the head

9a bottem end yes do it u wont regret it