Mk1 Conversion - Which Garages would you use?

Hello There

I am a new addition to the club, so please forgive any possible club Faux pas's I may inadvertantly make in my first post!

I am considering doing an 1.8T 20v conversion to my mk1 Golf GTI, which I bought approx 7 years ago, here in the UK. I've had 3 mk1's in the past, and I loved every one of them, but I've always wanted to put a newer engine in, to (a) have a bit of fun, (b) make it easier to maintain and © help with fuel economy (I think my mk1 gets about 8 miles to the gallon currently)

Anyways, I've done a bit of research online and the two garages I have made contact with so far are Style Dynamics (London) and Crazy Quiffs (Oxfordshire). I was wondering if anyone has had much experience with either of these garages, and could recommend them, or tell me anything about them.

Any other words of advice would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks

Sean







 

I used tsr in Somerset and the installation was OK. Cost me £3.6k drive in/out. I had a 2.0 16V abf unit fitted. Works included engine, box, fuel tank, ecu, exhaust, loom, tank. Their attention to detail did lack a little and I did get the distinct feeling that I was being brushed off when I collected the car. Minor things like they took my genuine choke cable and lever out of the car leaving a hole that's still there, fuel pump was pressed against the body, which resulted in a terrible noise throughout the whole car and I was advised this was normal for that type of conversion. They took and kept my new k&n, weber carb, strut brace too. Which I did have to ask for back and again got the cold shoulder. The car has stuttered since I got it back but tsr did offer to look at this. If it wasn't for the 400mile gap, I'd be camping out until it was sorted. 
Overall the job they done was OK. I did spend another few hundred rectifying the tsr minor errors including changing the rubber fuel lines to steel and changed all the engine vacuum lines as they were perished, then the clutch failed due to oil leak from the crank. 
So, given the cost I had to cover for repairs on an engine that was supposed to be fully checked out and serviced, I'd have second thoughts of using these guys again. If I was local maybe they would have fixed all these things, but it's the brush off and claim the engine had been fully checked out was clearly bullshit. Oh, nearly forgot, I had to do the timing belt too, now how easy would that have been with the engine on the floor? 
I did ask about these guys before hand too, the feedback is very mixed, the attention or lack of is what did annoy me. 

Thanks Craig, That's really handy to know actually. I've also contacted TSR, but have not heard from them yet. They already sound like they are not the type of garage I am looking for.

Cheers

S

Not heard from them? Haha, that's another element I didn't mention… if you search the forum, you will find good and bad from every supplier. I spoke to a few guys at the agm and I'd gladly pay for their services. But they aren't for sale! :-). I have a local guy in motherwell who's moving towards air-cooled, but he still looks after my mk1, but didn't have the time for the conversion. 
Good luck in the search, it transformed my car into something refreshing and more enjoyable. 

I don't know anyone whose had a conversion done from Crazy Quiffs but being mk1 specialists they should be more than competent I'd hope!

I didn't know style dynamics did engine conversions? They used to be wheel specialists before moving into exhaust systems so prob best to see if anyone has had a conversion done from them maybe?

My personal reccomendation would be Darren at VW Enterpises in SE London. He specialises in 20vt installs and is very knowledgeable. He even has a S3 powered mk1 too!

Cheers
Taj

Fantastic - thanks. I hadn't come across them. I shall contact them for sure

Cheers

S

You would not be disappointed with crazyquiff work at all.
He has done lots of first class conversions from standard through VR6, 1.8T and 2.0 TFSI

Thanks! Have you him do any work for you at all?

S

SMaC9000 said

Thanks! Have you him do any work for you at all?

S

No, just seen the output of his work.
I tend to do all the work myself.


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Crazyquiffs best there is IMO ,had a abf conversion drive in drive out.very happy and a great bunch of guys check out Crazyquiffs Facebook page.

Steve at auto precision near Wolverhampton. 
Bit of a trek for you but I've seen him put 20vt in mk1's and mk2's for customers. 
He's pretty damn clued up on 20v 
If you ask him nicely he will let you have a look at his own twin 20v engined mk2 project and his golf country 20v

May be a bit of a wait though as they are going through the process of moving to a new unit so won't be booking any big jobs in for a couple of weeks. 

Good luck 

What sort of cash would crazy be wanting for a drive in drive out 1.8t conversion?

Ballpark.

zorg said

What sort of cash would crazy be wanting for a drive in drive out 1.8t conversion?

Ballpark.

Ask him !!
crazyquiff


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I'm also about to start a Mk1 conversion to a 20v conversion. having spoken to both garages in detail about what they can and can't do. Id say you couldn't go much wrong with VW Enterprises or with CrazyQuiff…

Ah very good - who did you choose to go with, if you don't mind me asking?

S

I've seen CrazyQuiff and had a long conversation this morning funnily enough.
I've also spoken to VW Enterprises and will be seeing him sometime next week.

I'll make my decision then