GTi Engine swap or upgrade?

To start with please forgive my utter ignorance when it comes to car engines. My knowledge is pretty much limited to a basic service and replacing parts like for like when they go wrong….

The dillema I face at the moment is what to do with my 178k DX engine. Compression is currently all over the place and it idles like nothing I've ever heard before! Under acceleration the compression seems to come good and it still pulls well, but I suspect it probably needs a at the very least a top end rebuild.

The obvious choice would be to strip and rebuild.
Choice 2 would be a straight replacement - G40 would be nice, but also considered either a PD150 swap or try to find a 180bhp TSi lump.
the other choice is a middle ground - rebuild but tidy up and make quicker.

If if I were to do the latter what do I need to be considering? My car has electronic fuel injection, dizzy etc so thinking mild cam and either TBs or carbs but what considerations do I need to make if I choose this route?

Engine guru input and advice would be massively appreciated before I start dismantling things

If you knowledge is limited the a pd engine would be a huge undertaking. G40 would be better

You dx to refurb the will be around £200 for a pro to do a alot less if you do it yourself. Plus it will gain you more knowledge along the way

I would refurb the head and see if that improves things

Thanks for the reply. I'll be honest, I'd rather do the research into what I need then shadow my mechanic friend doing the work!

If if I were to tidy up the bay by installing TBs or carbs would I lose any of the clutter? I've seen many a tidy bay over the past few shows and I really need to think about getting mine tidy and reliable. 

Talisman, I hope you do not mind me jumping on your thread, I would like to know what is involved in a top end rebuild and how long would a car be off the road if this was being done by a garage.
Andy

Not at all. It's all referencable info!

i suspect a simple top end rebuild would be down to how quickly the head can be removed and skimmed. I have had a head skimmed within the day before on a French engine. Couple of days should be achievable 

The DX engine has K Jetronic fuel injection which is mechanical.

9double9 said

The DX engine has K Jetronic fuel injection which is mechanical.

Simple enough to work with? As in if I were to change to TBs?

Your suggestions are all over the place, if you would be happy with current power levels just get existing engine rebuilt, its the easiest choice.

abfmk1 said

Your suggestions are all over the place, if you would be happy with current power levels just get existing engine rebuilt, its the easiest choice.

Just accidentally hit the report button…. Sorry!

The engine needs a rebuild anyway so that is my preferred choice, however I also want the bay to look less cluttered.

Then replace the k-jet (which is a very messy collection of bits ) with efi.