Complete novice Guide to > 1.8 Cabrio > 2.0 2e

Greetings all - I am new to the modding world and have a 1987 1.8 Cabrio 8v that I would like to build an engine for.

From what I have read it seems the 2e is a good candidate being that the internal components are forged have potential for Turbo…
I've managed to source a 2e complete engine and trans for 300 Euro, need some advice before I start down this path.
Is the 2e a good place to start for progressive mods?

if so:
Can the 2e head be used on a MK1 swap
How complicated of a task will this be - from what I've read it is a straight swap?
Moving forward - What is the best (cost/performance standopoint) Turbo kit (Hoping for  +/- 160bhp)

Appreciate any advice anyone who has been down this road can provide
thx.
.\me

Looking to bring this thing back to life…

Welcome to the forum  

I'm not the one to help you with the engine, I'm sure someone will be along shortly who can. Anything that's forged though is good

Thanks for the reply Andy, hoping someone can help point me in the right direction - always appreciate advice from the pro's.
.\me

I don't really see the point of trying to turbo a non turbo engine, when genuine used turbo engines and the parts to fit them into mk1,s are readily available,  but its your car.

Right then I won't, but I do need to do something, I bought it today, the guy threw in a 2.5" Techtonics exhaust too, harness and ecu and the motor came with all ancillaries, alternator, distributer, belts and hoses.
Needs a good bath


I understand that the 2e mounts will fit in a MK1,  I've seen a few folks have taken the 1.8 head and put it on the 2e block, is it possible to do a complete swap? I currently am running k-jet on a jh motor, the new engine is odb2. What's the best upgrade path considering I have all of the above?
Thanks for you advice!

Stripped all hoses, intake, exhaust - stopped short of the head because I don't have the tool to remove it - will look to get one this week (together with an engine stand because it's frikkin heavy to lift with one hand and work with the other).

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The Techtonics exhaust has a dual outlet downpipe, and then 2.5" from there back. Unfortunately the manifold on the MK1 is a single outlet to the down pipe - So now I will be looking for a suitable exhaust manifold too.

Been looking and looking and can't find the engine code - which is strange, there is no plate between the 3rd and 4th spark plugs…


and nothing on the back other than 2.0 and this mount, which I can't find a match for on the 1.8 - I am guessing that when it comes to swap time I'll pull this one off and reuse the ones from the 1.8 motor?


Looks like I'm going for the 1.8 head swap option:
Couple of questions:
Will I be able to reuse this alternator or will I need to fit the alternator from the MK1?
What exhaust manifold do I need to work with the MK1 head and allow me to use the exhaust assuming I'll need some kind of space to get round tall block fitment issues?
How can I identify the block type - It didn't come with the sticker in the boot… hoping it is a 2e and that all this is not in vain…
Thanks again for any advice.

yes you can swap the mk1 mounts over and it'll drop in. you can use the mk1 head to convert the engine to run on the mk1 fuel system, or keep the mk3 head if you convert your car to use the mk3 injection system.

if its a standard fitment mk1 downpipe you need a mk1/cab/rocco 8v gti 6 bolt flange downpipe

for the alternator you can use the mk3 setup just bin the pas pump, or swap mk1 bits over. if it has aircon swap the waterpump pulley for non-ac mk3 1.8-2.0 or a vr6 one.  only thing if its the late style setup wit hthe tensioner wheel this can hit the chassis leg. but you can swap the earlier alternator and bracket with the big spring under it and it'll fit fine.

you can use any 2.0 8v bottom end, they're all basically the same. if you want to use the mk1 fuel injection you'll need a dizzy adaptor ring like what TSR sell, plus swap the 2.0 dizzy gear over to your old dizzy then drop it into the mk3 block. if you go mk3 managment then obv you can keep mk3 dizzy.

the only difference with 2e and the others is the type of injection system, the basic engien is the same. the 2e uses a 4 trigger window dizzy, the later engines have a single trigger window dizzy and a crank sensor down the bottom. thats one way to ID if its a 2e or not anyway