engine swap

[big_wig_074]

who can do a basic engine swap?and at what cost? we're not looking to spend thousands on a turbo or a vr6 etc... a simple 2 litre bottom end swap on carbs for the 1.8 gt would be great on the standard gearbox etc...I was hoping to get Andy Knox to look at the car, but he is seemingly impossible to get hold of by phone,text or facebook. myself and my better half were very impressed by the 8v on carbs he had there.
Can anyone else do this? we don't fancy doing it ourselves, just want it in and out and done to enjoy driving it. or can anyone get hold of Andy?
a quote would be great too.

[mark1gls]

Where in the country are you?

[big_wig_074]

Worcestershire but willing to travel within reason

[mr alpine92]

sorry to hijack the thread,instead of creating a new thread,i thought i jump in here because i have the same query.
Anyone ? im am in London,

[mr.brown]

The Phirm are based in Blackwater, Surrey and are the only people (apart from me) I've ever trusted to work on my cars for the past ten years. They still do engine swaps/conversions so worth a call even if for only advice (and to dispel myths).

FYI, there is no such thing as a "simple" swap. There were only ever a finite amount of Audi 2.0 litre bottom ends that were a direct fit for the 1.8 head and those have all but disappeared.

[mr alpine92]

The Phirm are based in Blackwater, Surrey and are the only people (apart from me) I've ever trusted to work on my cars for the past ten years. They still do engine swaps/conversions so worth a call even if for only advice (and to dispel myths).

FYI, there is no such thing as a "simple" swap. There were only ever a finite amount of Audi 2.0 litre bottom ends that were a direct for the 1.8 head and those have all but disappeared.

that what i looking for i give them a ring tomorrow, vr6 look nice,do you have any ide how much a conversion would cost like that,

[mr.brown]

Think of a figure and then double it lol. You first problem will be finding a half-decent donor car - bearing in mind that the newest VR6 will be knocking on twenty years old! So - just a decent donor could cost you a couple of grand. You could of course make some of this back by breaking the car - if you have the time/room etc.
You'll then need to get a custom exhaust downpipe fabricated as well as engine mounts.
Gearbox? Running your old one? You might want to think about a rebuild to handle the power.
Brakes? More power = uprated brakes
Suspension? The Vr6 is a heavy beast so you will probably need some custom front suspension too.

Can you see how the costs mount up?

[big_wig_074]

So what about the mk3 golf bottom end? From the reading I've done that fits just fine on a 1.8 head with a dizzy adaptor required. And theyre available in spades. No need to find expensive Audi bubble blocks. I'm not after spending 3 grand to fit an engine.

[mr alpine92]

Think of a figure and then double it lol. You first problem will be finding a half-decent donor car - bearing in mind that the newest VR6 will be knocking on twenty years old! So - just a decent donor could cost you a couple of grand. You could of course make some of this back by breaking the car - if you have the time/room etc.
You'll then need to get a custom exhaust downpipe fabricated as well as engine mounts.
Gearbox? Running your old one? You might want to think about a rebuild to handle the power.
Brakes? More power = uprated brakes
Suspension? The Vr6 is a heavy beast so you will probably need some custom front suspension too.

Can you see how the costs mount up?

i can,im just doing upgrade Brake Discs Front 256mm,and all new brakes,done the suspension,best i give the guys a ring tomorrow, see how it plans out,but thanks for all the good info Mr Brown

[big_wig_074]

And fyi, simple engine swap to me is retaining a carburetor set up, the standard rod change gearbox, 8 valve head etc. I'm not new to the world of cars, the rest of the car will reflect the power output, I haven't asked for someone to do a complete overhaul. The suspension is being completely done this weekend, new shocks, springs, bearings, new wheel bearings, all of the brake components have been uprated in the last few months, I just want someone else to do an engine transplant for me for convenience. I carried out my own on this very car this summer for an Audi 1.8 8v, however, it is in daily use by my other half and id like to drive in and out without any stress. I'd be tempted by a 16v on carbs if easier for the mechanic, but there we go.

[mark1gls]

Some info on different engine swaps.
http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/index.php?page= ... misc&id=26

TSR may have some prices on the website, I don't really recomend them as I've had problems with there work but it was 10 years ago, some other people on the mk1 golf forum have had a few problems with there work and they are not good at customer care.
http://www.tsr-performance.com

My cousin works for midland VW and he's a old school VW fan and the place where he works likes working on older VWs he had a mk2 golf with a vr6 then he supercharged it got feed up with that heavy engine and went down the 20v turbo route which was rebuilt bigger turbo and inter cooler, I think he got to about 300 bhp in the end.
Worth giving them a call for prices etc?
http://www.midlandvw.co.uk/home.html

I'm going down the golf mk3 2.0l bottom end route and the engine is slightly taller so you do need to modify the exhaust down pipe, the engine block I have already has the dissy adaptor and blanking plate for the oil breather on the front of then engine, from what I've read I should be able to fit my DX engine head straight onto it? This is going into my Mk1 golf so the bonnet is higher than a mk2 scirocco so you may get problems with clearance?

[mr.brown]

Mk3 blocks will fit but again, the newest will be nearly 20 years old so it's a question of finding a good one. Apart from the dizzy ring, you have the block breather system to deal with - TSR used to do a kit with the ring and breather block off plate. I can't remember whether the water pipe causes issues as well.

The "big block" is only something like 13mm taller - I have seen conversions where a slight backwards tilt of the engine has been enough (although I don't know how they fared long term).

Google DX onto 2E or DX onto AGG - there's plenty of info about (I know yours is an EX but same principles apply).

Oh, and FWIW, I'd look for a block from a mk3 Golf cabriolet - generally lower miles and not likely to be have been abused as much as a GTI.

[james butler]

What about the 2 litre mk3 estate?
That's not the sort of car you thrash about and should be a good source for a decent block.

[Zoofy]

Some info on different engine swaps.
http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/index.php?page= ... misc&id=26

TSR may have some prices on the website, I don't really recomend them as I've had problems with there work but it was 10 years ago, some other people on the mk1 golf forum have had a few problems with there work and they are not good at customer care.
http://www.tsr-performance.com

My cousin works for midland VW and he's a old school VW fan and the place where he works likes working on older VWs he had a mk2 golf with a vr6 then he supercharged it got feed up with that heavy engine and went down the 20v turbo route which was rebuilt bigger turbo and inter cooler, I think he got to about 300 bhp in the end.
Worth giving them a call for prices etc?
http://www.midlandvw.co.uk/home.html

I'm going down the golf mk3 2.0l bottom end route and the engine is slightly taller so you do need to modify the exhaust down pipe, the engine block I have already has the dissy adaptor and blanking plate for the oil breather on the front of then engine, from what I've read I should be able to fit my DX engine head straight onto it? This is going into my Mk1 golf so the bonnet is higher than a mk2 scirocco so you may get problems with clearance?

Hello, I’d just like to second what Mark said about Midland VW. I had Midland VW work on my scirocco when I had an engine swap. They are very good indeed. Knowledge is all there. They didn’t cut corners and did a very tidy job aesthetically.

In regards to the conversion itself I’d honestly say if you are thinking of whipping the engine out you should go full hog! Go for a 20v or something special. Plenty of build threads on here that might twist your arm!

It’s really worth it. I had a standard 1992 Scala 1.8i. Then upgraded to a G60 from a Corrado. It’s sat at 200hp at the moment and is endless fun to drive.

If you’ve got the money go for something special.

Enjoy

[mk2moo]

If it was me id go for a simple KR with a 9A bottom set up.

Fits in easy, runs kJet, gives 150 bhp quite easily. Stick it on carbs and gain a little bit more.