Hi there,

 

I’m new here. I’ve encountered several threads in regards to Felicia engine swaps and here I am about to start another...!

 

I’ve owned and driven this spotless Felicia for 6 months now, and since I’ve had her I’ve been making a big long list of considerations for her as a rally project. (I’ll be keeping it road legal but I am not planning to have it insured as a daily car)

 

My original plan was to keep the AEE engine and do a forced induction project, but from daily driving and a little research I don’t think it would handle it well and there wouldn’t be much benefit.

This has led me to the conclusion that an engine swap might be better. 

 

But as always, handling and braking comes before power and I have a few strategies in mind to improve these areas. 

 

STEERING

I currently have a standard powered rack, and I’ve noticed the steering angle is a little narrow for my liking. So my first question is are there any other racks with a better stock angle that would marry up nicely? If not, I can work with the current rack and modify other steering components.

 

BRAKING

The non-ABS system with rear drums has very vague response (even with brand new fluid, discs, pads and shoes) and I saw some people have fitted the ABS capable components - does this increase responsivity?

I plan to fit discs to the rear using the stub axles from a mk2 golf (still evaluating the changes I might need to make in cable length and brake load sensor valve), is there a brake system that anyone has tried and would recommend? 

 

SUSPENSION

I am looking at running slightly lower, stiffer springs with standard shock absorbers, I’m not aiming for low-low, just less body-roll and more responsive handling. Upgraded bushes etc. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

ENGINE

I am not a speed nut, my main aims here are rapid response, quick off the line and round a corner - not unbridled speed in a straight line.

my first thought was a simple, small turbo for fast spool on the current AEE.

 

Now, I am considering an engine swap. I see the AVY mentioned a few times, and my question is to this - has anyone successfully installed this engine and then turbo/supercharged it? I wonder how many options there would be for the future should I choose to expand on it in the future? (I should add - I only wish to take this project on for the sheer love of engineering, the fun for me is in the process so I’m not put off by time/financial constraints, I want to produce something interesting)

 

Next, I am tempted by the 1.8T - feel free to persuade/disuade me!

 

Finally, I have seen the 2ltr Ford engine idea bandied about the place - has this been done successfully?

 

I would love to see any examples of a successful AVY swap, as at this moment in time it sounds the most feasible, but feel free to add any further suggestions with evidence!

 

Thanks,

Mechanagirl

 

 

 

36 minutes ago, Mechanagirl said:

 

ENGINE

I am not a speed nut, my main aims here are rapid response, quick off the line and round a corner - not unbridled speed in a straight line.

my first thought was a simple, small turbo for fast spool on the current AEE.

 

Now, I am considering an engine swap. I see the AVY mentioned a few times, and my question is to this - has anyone successfully installed this engine and then turbo/supercharged it? I wonder how many options there would be for the future should I choose to expand on it in the future? (I should add - I only wish to take this project on for the sheer love of engineering, the fun for me is in the process so I’m not put off by time/financial constraints, I want to produce something interesting)

 

Next, I am tempted by the 1.8T - feel free to persuade/disuade me!

 

 

I'm no expert on VAG engine swaps ( in my day it was Ford 1.3,1.5, 1.6 crossflow/pre crossflow swaps - simples)

 

The AEE engine is from the "Polo" family and as such needs to be mated to a Polo-ish gearbox. From what I remeber the 1.8T is from a totally different family and different size/angle gearbox. This knocks on to engine / gearbox mounts, driveshafts, whether it even fits at all. Probably the AVY 16v is a possible upgrade and I've seen some with a turbo fitted - this route can be expensive though and the gearbox will be the weak link!

 

Also later immobiliser technologies that post date the Felicia hard to deal with.

 

How about a good old-fashioned porting and exhaust & manifold conversion to get some extra horses out of the robust AEE engine?

 

Make sure a cat is still part of what you do - otherwise it's curtains at the next MOT

 

Edited 29 May, 20188 yr by bigjohn

2 hours ago, Mechanagirl said:

Next, I am tempted by the 1.8T - feel free to persuade/disuade me!

You will end up with a beast of an engine on a small flimsy car. Scary to drive in the negative way.

Braking-

I know one person has retro fitted ABS to his Felicia but I believe It's alot of work and I'm not sure It's worth the effort. 

There are a few brake upgrades you can do though

Rears you can use mk2/3/4 Golf calipers with mk2 Golf carriers/226mm discs/stub axles

Or 

Take the lot from a Polo 6n2 with 232mm rear discs. 

Both straight bolt on fit, just need slight re-route of the handbrake and make a sleeved spacer for the cable.

Fronts you can upgrade to;

-256mm vented mk1 Mondeo calipers/carriers and Kia/Hyundai  discs

-280mm vented with mk1 Mondeo V6 calipers/carriers and Renault Scenic discs

300mm vented with mk3 Mondeo calipers/carriers with RenaultScenic discs.

All fit with some minor modifications, have be careful of wheel fitment with bigger brakes.

 

Suspension-

You can get coilovers to fit the Felicia using mk3/mk4/mk5 Escort fronts and using mk2/mk3 Golf rears. Or as you said stiffer springs on stock shock absorbers.

You can get a front strut brace, guessing yours has one as standard being a 1.6.

You can fit a 22mm anti roll bar to the front from a Felicia/Caddy pick up and fit stronger/better quality drop links from a Cordoba, Polo etc. 
These drop links come with an M12 nut so you can do away with the poxy M8 Felicia ones.

Then use Mk2 Golf/Polo 6n etc polybush anti roll bushes.

 

Speedrpro.eu sell uprated bushes for the wishbones and rear axle.

You can make a rear anti roll bar to fit the rear beam, I used a 27mm from a Mitsubishi L200 pick up and this made the biggest difference reducing body roll.

 

Engine-

Yours being a 1.6 the easiest swap would be the 1.4 AFH, bolt in job pretty much and will give you 100bhp stock or approx 125bhp on bike carbs

Or you can make the 1.4 AFH into a 1.6 AFH using either a the AVY block with AFH head or AVY internals in the AFH block this would give 125bhp approx stock or 150bhp approx on bike carbs.

 

Edited 30 May, 20188 yr by nu99et18

On 29/05/2018 at 23:03, RicardoM said:

You will end up with a beast of an engine on a small flimsy car. Scary to drive in the negative way.

 

What is scary to some, is exciting to others, and not at all negative.

 

Not that I would recommend doing the 1.8T without sorting the handling and braking, but since the OP said that would be the priority, the 1.8T should not be ruled-out on the grounds of the effect it has. However, the 1.8T transplant is a lot of work, and what you end-up with when you fit one in a Felicia is not much like a Felicia any more. If you love your Felicia, but want it to be better rather than fundamentally different, I would not recommend going the 1.8T route.

@Mechanagirl - There are a couple of people on here who've done 1.8T Felicia conversions. Look in the "Classic Skoda Projects" forum.

@Mechanagirl- You have literally asked all the same questions I'm wondering myself.

So far my research goes like this your right the AEE engine is too weak for any real boost so an AVY swap may be the answer for immediate rise in HP.

I'm looking into this myself currently and I'm looking to turbo charge it if possible.  But as for the research on the polo forums the weak point is the gearbox on the 6n2 and the felly box isn't much better.  So its possible but you may blow up some gearboxes I have 2 spare atm so I might do it and see what happens.

I'm told by http://www.jbsautodesigns.co.uk these guys the 1.8t swap is a ****** of a job and some of the parts needed are no longer available but if you can weld and are patient it's possible.

For an N/A tune up on the AEE lump with all the mods and throttle bodies etc. you'll just about get it to about the base AVY power with a huge expense.

This is the thread I've just read for the 1.4 16v conversion I may be wrong but if the 1.4 fits the 1.6 16v should as well that's 125 bolt in horses.

The 256mm kia rio/ ford serria brake upgrade works! i did it this winter.

I'm currently trying to find someone that can speak Czech to speak to these guys http://www.hpsporting.cz/tlumice_sporting.php about some coilovers.

TeflonTom seems to have done pretty much everything to the Felicia so have a look though his threads.

Good luck let me know how you get on.

If you need a hand let me know. 

Regards Tara.