As per thread title really.

My mate has a Golf he has completely stripped to a naked shell, and was considering installing a VR6 lump, or a 1.8t engine.

He has been informed he would be better tuning its original engine, to forego the massive problems of ecu adaptation etc.

It's a'J' plate, and money to improve it isn't an issue, he just wants the most bhp he can get.

He keeps asking me what to do, but he hasn't sussed yet that I am a buffoon, and is prepared to listen to me.

Any advice would be appreciated.

If money is no object, then 1.8T would seem to represent the best upgrade path I would have thought.......

Chris

If money is no object, then 1.8T would seem to represent the best upgrade path I would have thought.......

Chris

He will be doing most of the oily bits himself, and has been quoted 'at least' £600 for a 1.8t engine, and as far as I know, all the electrical bits can work out very expensive to alter ( ecu, wiring looms etc ) and he is no electrician at all.

When I say 'no object' I meant without it being stupidly expensive.

I am no expert by any means, but I cannot believe that the normally aspirated 2.0 8v engine has much headroom for tuning, even with some pretty hefty money pumped into it.

It's 115bhp as standard I think, but even with a full exhaust, hot camshaft, manifold, port polishing, lighter pistons, timing tweaks etc. I wouldn't have thought you'd be looking much over 160bhp but you would be looking at a very expensive bill.

I'd go for a VR6 conversion myself if it's mechanically fairly simple. You have the same tuning issues to a certain extent except of course you're starting from a much higher level and the sound of a 6-pot is much better, not to mention the character.

Just my 2p's . . .

18T for me too

Just a quick bump before I go off for the weekend.

the 8e (I think?) engine is ****e, basically...

you could drop a 2.0 16v ABF in, which I've seen reach 180 on just a filter and exhaust

1.8T, unless the cost of VR6 units has come down loads. It's lighter and at least as powerful at a given pricepoint.

hmmmmm.... would a 16v unit from golf fit a 95 A6 one the engine was turned round 90 degrees ?

when you say J plate, is that an early mk3 or is it one one the very last mk2 cars???

i'm guessing that because it's a 2.0 it is a mk3

hmmmmm.... would a 16v unit from golf fit a 95 A6 one the engine was turned round 90 degrees ?

no hth

no hth

Why not ? The 16v unit is avail for the A6, I think it's even the same engine code (ACE ?) surely it's just a case of placing the block in longitudinally, and mating up the gearbox ?

Why not ? The 16v unit is avail for the A6, I think it's even the same engine code (ACE ?) surely it's just a case of placing the block in longitudinally, and mating up the gearbox ?

You'd need different manifolds, presuming the engine mounts, flywheel and bellhousing flange (size and drilling) to be the same. Even then, the position of the starter motor, and engine ancilliaries, might be different.

hmmm,I was under the impression the 16v and 8v difference were just the head ?

just thinking of ways of sorting my jelopy for the winter.

1.8t all the way, plenty powerfull enough as is, plus huge scope for further tuning.

VR6 will destroy the handling, plus have very little scope for further tuning.