So I had a conversation with one of the blokes at the local MOT testing station and it turns out the VW 1.8T transplant is a no-go unless I want to reregister the car as an amateur built vehicle. And hell will freeze over before I'm willing to do that again. He did however say that since the car was manufactured after 1995, any engine it was sold with will pass the MOT. Bottom line, I can throw in any petrol engine from the Fabia MK1 series.

So I tracked down a AZL (2.0 8v, 118bhp) engine about 120 miles from here for just under 600 quid. Its got about a 100k on the clock. 20k less than mine.

Anything I should think about when doing this transplant? Has someone here done this by any chance?

It's a new one on me, won't have any issue with my 1.8T, had no issue with my MK2 Golf either that was fitted with a TT engine.

Edit, sorry just realised your location.

It's a new one on me, won't have any issue with my 1.8T, had no issue with my MK2 Golf either that was fitted with a TT engine.

Edit, sorry just realised your location.

No worries. Our regulations are pretty ridiculous anyway. But this wont be done until July earliest because my car had its MOT in November and the absolute soonest I can do it is in July. So then I'll have a year without worrying about if they pass it with the new engine or not.

avoid high mileage 2.0 engines, they eat thier piston rings then drink thier own oil, the main issue you will find is actually being able to get hold of the bits and pieces you need, you will need the whole lot including the wiring looms and ecu and everything else which is specfic to the 2.0 model.. and by the time you've done that you may as well have just gone out and bought the car with that engine in already.. the 2.0 engine is quite good but its not going to set your world on fire

You reckon its too big of a hassle? I've decided to vest some serious funds into this thing and I thought that engine might be easier to tune. But I might as well keep the 1.4 and put my money in that one.

Be better of doing a 1.6 16v

Problem is that the 1.6 wont pass the MOT because that engine was never sold with the Fabia. At least over here.

Ah yeah, good point

If the 2.0 engine is to complicated to transplant, I might just keep the 1.4 with some basic tuning. I got a call an hour ago from a mate and two blokes are interested in my Audi. I might just sell it and get meself a (V)RS. Reckon I'm gonna need the space though, so it might just grow into an Octy. We'll see. Ta for the help.

Edited 5 April, 201214 yr by DaKKs_152

It's not that it's too much hassle as such, just seems like a lot of work to build up something which you can already buy off the shelf.

You could disguise a 1.6 16v to look like a 1.4, they look virtually identical from the outside... :wonder: who said that? wasn't me that told you that.... In all seriousness you should consider just chopping it in and getting a car that's faster to start with like a vrs model, and because every man and his dog has had one the tuning parts and upgrades are readily available for the vrs.

It's not that it's too much hassle as such, just seems like a lot of work to build up something which you can already buy off the shelf. You could disguise a 1.6 16v to look like a 1.4, they look virtually identical from the outside... :wonder: who said that? wasn't me that told you that.... In all seriousness you should consider just chopping it in and getting a car that's faster to start with like a vrs model, and because every man and his dog has had one the tuning parts and upgrades are readily available for the vrs.

Ah, ta for the tip. But I'm trying to stay on the straight and narrow. I want this car to be legal.

As for the tuning. I could buy a (V)RS, in fact I've been seriously considering it. But the point is that I love working on cars. I might be easier to buy one, but I enjoy building it. Just look at the cars in my sig, if that not crazy, I dunno what is.

btw, any tips for the 1.4mpi then? I'm planning a performance filter, sport exhaust(+possibly decat), homemade 4-2-1 manifold, remap and I might even have it ported. coilies, ARB and (V)RS brakes for handling.