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General => The garage => Topic started by: alsautos on 31 January 2012, 18:11

Title: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: alsautos on 31 January 2012, 18:11
i know already that everybody is just going to say "engine swap" but i dont want to do that yet
i am looking for upgrades for my 1.4 abd 8v in my mk 3 golf.
does anyone know anywhere i can find parts e.g. high lift cam, uprated inlet manifold?
any other suggestions?
thanks, ash
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: Wayne on 31 January 2012, 23:59
Not worth the hassle or expense, any gains will be small.
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: alsautos on 01 February 2012, 17:32
as i stated in my first post, i know everyone will say its not worth it swap engine.
but thats not what i want to hear i just want to know what upgrades are available wether they are worth it or not in other peoples opinions.
people upgrade these engines in polos so there must be some ways of doing it. e.g. is there a cam from another engine that will make a difference or where can i find upgraded parts....
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: trog_nfs on 01 February 2012, 19:02
The gearbox will implode at standard power, let alone if you tried to put anything else through it.

ABD is cr@p. AEX is better.
It's a bit different in a polo though as it doesn't weigh half as much as the golf with the same engine

Boneybradley did a post a while back saying the easiest mod to get more power was to put a 1.6 in.
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: Wayne on 01 February 2012, 20:48
as i stated in my first post, i know everyone will say its not worth it swap engine.
but thats not what i want to hear i just want to know what upgrades are available wether they are worth it or not in other peoples opinions.
people upgrade these engines in polos so there must be some ways of doing it. e.g. is there a cam from another engine that will make a difference or where can i find upgraded parts....

That was the point I was making, yes upgrades are available but it is not worth doing anything to the engine as any gains will be expensive, so if you do the maths it makes more sense to get a quicker car.
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: alsautos on 01 February 2012, 21:14
so you say upgrades are available, what im asking is what are the options? i dont want anyone to tell me whats cheaper or easier. just the upgrade options for the engine. and in my case its not different in a polo as my car probably weighs less.
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: dom on 01 February 2012, 21:51
so you say upgrades are available, what im asking is what are the options? i dont want anyone to tell me whats cheaper or easier. just the upgrade options for the engine. and in my case its not different in a polo as my car probably weighs less.

Upgrade options:

Keep current lump & throw a lot of money at it for no real gain, then realise that it was a mistake and either sell the car or drop a different engine in.

OR

Engine swap in the first place and save yourself time & money!
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: alsautos on 02 February 2012, 22:00
why does noone seem to listen? no matter how many times i say i dont want to hear that its a waste of money and time people only say the same thing. so when you say throw a load of money at it what do you mean? i just want to know where to find the parts.....
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: trog_nfs on 03 February 2012, 14:43
why does noone seem to listen? no matter how many times i say i dont want to hear that its a waste of money and time people only say the same thing. so when you say throw a load of money at it what do you mean? i just want to know where to find the parts.....

The parts to "upgrade" (and I use the term very loosely) are expensive, and will gain almost no power and lose all drivability.
The 1.4 is the economy model in a golf. Lets face it if you can't get more power out of the 8v and 16v GTIs without spending mega-bucks do you really think you can with the 1.4 8v SPI?

Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: todd on 03 February 2012, 21:29
How can your car weigh less than a polo ? It's impossible unless all you have is a chassis and a engine, what everyone is trying to do is make u see sence because that engine won't pull skin off rice pudding, any mods you do to it will probably get you back up to standard horse power especially as it's in a heavy car so will be under more strain, easiest mods would be a panel filter and airbox mod and a cat back system but like everyone has said it's a waste of money to modify said engine.
Sorry for poor punctuation but I can't be bothered lol
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: danny_p on 03 February 2012, 23:57
why does noone seem to listen? no matter how many times i say i dont want to hear that its a waste of money and time people only say the same thing. so when you say throw a load of money at it what do you mean? i just want to know where to find the parts.....

SPI engine is just such a bad place to start from and parts hard to find because its not an engine meany people want to tune so no one makes the bits   some parts will be avalibe as will be common fitment with other small block vw motors that are tuned to some extent.

dought you'll be intrested when you see the price but if you cant get the bits drop me a pm and arrange to come by  and we'll be abel to sort whatever bits you want for said engine.  if we cant buy it in,  we'll ether  make it or have it made.   can even have custom head castings done.  but that really costs £ :shocked: amounts
Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: alsautos on 05 February 2012, 00:43
How can your car weigh less than a polo ? It's impossible unless all you have is a chassis and a engine, what everyone is trying to do is make u see sence because that engine won't pull skin off rice pudding, any mods you do to it will probably get you back up to standard horse power especially as it's in a heavy car so will be under more strain, easiest mods would be a panel filter and airbox mod and a cat back system but like everyone has said it's a waste of money to modify said engine.
Sorry for poor punctuation but I can't be bothered lol
my golf is literally a chassis and an engine with no interior what so ever no dash no carpets no back seats no speakers no door cards no roof lining and no sound deadening. 2 lightweight seats and perspex windows all round bar the windscreen. thats how.

the plan is to build the shell to a high spec and get it all prepped and then drop a different lump in but i just want a little more power for now and the way i see it someone will buy my engine after for a polo or something.

my car already has kw coilovers all round, upper and lower front strut braces, rear strut brace, polybushes all round, a set of lightweight alloys and an alloy fuel tank.

all ive got left to do before the engine goes in is the rollcage the brakes and a few other little bits.

i know these engines are pretty pathetic standard but as it is now the car is surprisingly nippy id jus like a bit more power untill i get my other bits finished and ready.

thanks to anyone who has given any helpfull info :)

Title: Re: 1.4 abd engine upgrades, any ideas?
Post by: danny_p on 05 February 2012, 16:29
iirc main problem is its singel point injection, with a small throttel body. there known as electronic carbs  and nigh on untuneable

ditch the spi and things can be done put a 3f polo head on it and ether ITBs bike carbs or just the std 3f polo multipoint injection and it'll go a lot better