340 bhp is easily achievable on a 1.8T.

TBF Gavin, the reason why there aren't that many BT 1.8Ts on cupranet is due to a mk1 Leon Cupra R having a K04 turbo as standard and being good for approx (just under) 300bhp & 300lb/ft. The additional ££££ outlay to go BT doesn't seem to be justified for the additional power with most owners.

On cupranet, there have been several Ibiza Cupras with BTs over the years

There have been a few BT 1.8Ts on uk-mkivs over the years with power ranging from 340bhp to over 500bhp....

I know it is brave in the Fabia section, but dare I suggest that it also may be an idea to check out the Octavia 1 section as there may have also been a few BT owners on here.....

I didn't say 340bhp wasn't achievable on a 1.8T. There's plenty who have done that (or near enough) so I was actually agreeing with you. However Luke said he could get 340 from a PD130 engine (i.e. what he already has) so IMO the expense and effort of a conversion makes no sense unless you can get a considerable amount more. And there's barely any on SCN that I've seen with what I would consider to be "a lot more" than 340bhp. As you say, most people stop around 300/300 because that's not quite into big turbo territory.

I guess I just don't get why you'd spend months designing and fabricating all the little bits that might be necessary to drop a 1.8T into a Fabia (granted, not a lot since you can buy it in the Ibiza, but there'll still be some Fabia-unique parts) in order to only do something which you could actually have done with the engine you have.

Loads of 1.8t's in similar vag cars

Guess a non vrs just isnt desirable enough for the masses to attempt it

I agree with you Gavin - the costs involved in converting a diesel vRS to a 1.8T would not be cheap.

As I said earlier, my tactic would be to buy a petrol fabia and put a 1.8T in it which would reduce the parts required and be imo easier than converting a diesel.

In terms of 340 bhp in a 1.9PD - has anyone actually done it yet? I saw on TDI Club (admitidly a while back) BobbySingh dyno his 1.9PD at 305 bhp. I believe that Luke was quoted somewhere in the region of £8k by Darkside for the kit to develop 300 plus bhp - quite a lot of cash for the extra power.

IMO if you want to go that much faster, buy an Elise, stick a 1.8T, Honda 2.0VTEC or 2.3 Duratec into it.

£7K-£8K for a car, £8K-£10K for the conversion.

If you stay sensible with the power it'll cost less and go faster.

J.

I recall Bobby Singhs turbo didn't last very long at 300bhp!

As I said earlier, my tactic would be to buy a petrol fabia and put a 1.8T in it which would reduce the parts required and be imo easier than converting a diesel.

What petrol engines and gearboxes did the Fabia come with though? I'm guessing that for such an upgrade you'd be looking at the engine, big turbo, gearbox, clutch, intercooler, custom exhaust system with upgraded manifold, bigger brakes, possibly new suspension for the heavier turbo engine. Still seems like a lot of work and tbh I can't see you getting a lot more then 340bhp safely anyway? Not even convinced it'd be much easier than starting with the vRS given that at least the vRS is a "sporty" chassis and the suspension should be up to holding the weight...

IMO if you want to go that much faster, buy an Elise, stick a 1.8T, Honda 2.0VTEC or 2.3 Duratec into it.

£7K-£8K for a car, £8K-£10K for the conversion.

If you stay sensible with the power it'll cost less and go faster.

J.

Or you could put the 1.9pd into the Elise, now that would be a new idea surely...?

...err, no

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=307962

Have you not read about the mighty Fabia 2.0 petrol?!?!

I would like to point out that there is no way that a 1.8T is heavier than a 1.9PD.

As for the clutch & gearbox - you'd have to ask Unit18, who are currently putting the finishing touches to a 1.8T elegance.

I fail to see how it could be easier to convert a vRS than a petrol - all the parts that you mention would have to be changed in both cases, but you'd also have the added bonus of changing the fuel tank, fuel lines, clocks etc which are diesel specific.

This makes me think back to when TSR stuck an RS4 engine into a diesel passat and claimed that changing the diesel parts to petrol equivalents made the job take twice as long...

Have you not read about the mighty Fabia 2.0 petrol?!?!

I would like to point out that there is no way that a 1.8T is heavier than a 1.9PD.

No, I hadn't actually. I was thinking it only had 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol variants, all of which would be lighter than a 1.9PD. I know the 1.8T and 1.9PD are roughly the same, hence my comment about it actually being easier to start with a vRS as at least the suspension could cope unlike one of the lighter petrols. Would a 2.0 petrol be closer in weight? I dunno how much a turbo weighs either, so I dunno how much difference that makes.

As for the clutch & gearbox - you'd have to ask Unit18, who are currently putting the finishing touches to a 1.8T elegance.

I fail to see how it could be easier to convert a vRS than a petrol - all the parts that you mention would have to be changed in both cases, but you'd also have the added bonus of changing the fuel tank, fuel lines, clocks etc which are diesel specific.

This makes me think back to when TSR stuck an RS4 engine into a diesel passat and claimed that changing the diesel parts to petrol equivalents made the job take twice as long...

I have to admit I hadn't thought of the clocks. I was assuming that the fuel lines and bits would have to be changed for changing a lower spec petrol to a 1.8T as well (doesn't the 1.8T usually need a fuel pump in the tank which wouldn't be there on a lower spec car?).

Do it luke would be great

Matt

you'd make a bomb from selling your current modded bits so you'd at least get some money back for the conversion

I've got a 1.8T Octavia ready to donate it's bits over winter to give the MPi a bit more of a shove

i want a 1.8t fab :'(

I've got a 1.8T Octavia ready to donate it's bits over winter to give the MPi a bit more of a shove

I sometimes wonder how complicated it'd be to get the 4x4 bit of the Octavia in the Fabia too.

But I figured it'd be VERY difficult and VERY expensive.

A 4x4 Fabia with lots of power would be incredible.

Probably be easier to buy an S3 and graft on the Fabia bodyshell...

I've seen a pd engine with about 500bhp all you need to be is very good at engines... Ada a quick look at other posts and nobody as said about stroking it!!! That would be a start

Yeh just do it!

Okay the reason you would use a 2.0ltr petrol elegence fabia for a 1.8T conversion is because the gearbox and driveshafts, fuel system etc etc are all up to the job... all you need to do is alter the mounts, sort the wiring and ecu and fit the intercooler(same place as vRS one would be fine)

it's not a hard conversion and shouldn't need alot of extra parts... the 2.0 and 1.8t weigh virtually the same...

which happens to be a fair bit lighter than a 1.9pd

Edited 9 September, 201114 yr by Sonner

Really? I was under the impression that the 1.8T and 1.9PD were similar, which was the reason a lot of suspension kits (for cars that can come with both engines like the Octy I and the Leon Mk1) come in one variant for 1.4/1.6 and then another variant for 1.8T/1.9PD? Surely if the 1.8T was a lot lighter than the 1.9TDI the spring rates would be all wrong and the handling could actually get worse fitting an aftermarket kit?

edit - double post, oops!

Edited 9 September, 201114 yr by gavinchappell

Really? I was under the impression that the 1.8T and 1.9PD were similar, which was the reason a lot of suspension kits (for cars that can come with both engines like the Octy I and the Leon Mk1) come in one variant for 1.4/1.6 and then another variant for 1.8T/1.9PD? Surely if the 1.8T was a lot lighter than the 1.9TDI the spring rates would be all wrong and the handling could actually get worse fitting an aftermarket kit?

From a bit of googling, I've found 115KG quoted for the 1.8T and 200KG quoted for the 1.9 TDI.

Not specific on all 1.9TDI variants' weights

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Group_diesel_engines#2.0_R4_TDI_PD_47-103kW

1.8T info from here - http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/engines/engine_options.htm

Also found this for gearboxes...

020=68lb

02A=85lb

02M=112lb

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4664520-I-Was-Able-to-Weigh-these-020-o2o-02A-o2a-02M-o2m-transmissions-Transmission-Weight

So in theory, a 1.8T with a 5 speed box is 100KG lighter than a 1.9TDI with a 6 speed box!

I can't say I'm that surprised TBH.

J.

Edited 9 September, 201114 yr by vindaloo

good post Mr Vindaloo

Have to say that I am surprised. That's quite a difference in weight on the front ends between the engines, which adds up to a fair difference between the petrol and diesel Leon Cupra (for example). Pretty sure they both use the 02M box so that would be about the same but ~85kg difference in weight for the engines would make quite a big difference to the spring rates required, I would have thought. So I'm surprised that many aftermarket suspension kits are the same SKU for both 1.8T and 1.9PD engines.

I'd probably **** off aircon and anything else I could too, so maybe minus 100kg and plus 160bhp+. Mmm!

I'd probably **** off aircon and anything else I could too, so maybe minus 100kg and plus 160bhp+. Mmm!

Do it!

Ditch the air con, lose the rear seats, (new race) battery relocated to the rear, two bucket seats at the front, all sound proofing removed - would be killer