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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: Xtrhardcore on 12 January 2013, 11:15

Title: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Xtrhardcore on 12 January 2013, 11:15
Hi Guys,

Looking at doing a conversion on my 8v. Dropped back onto student wage now so its not coming in the next quater but more like august time.

Question is i'm open to both 1.8t or the VR. I know that they both use hydraulic clutchs etc etc, what engine would you recommend? Fairly heart stuck on staying with the body of this car as the majority of it is all good (*touchwood*)

looking at performance and price per hp?

What would you recommend?  Thoughts, experiences and opinions? :wink:
Title: Re: Engine conversion?
Post by: DCmk3 on 12 January 2013, 11:19
You can find plenty info in the mk3 maintenance + info board, here's a topic for example;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=124485.0
Title: Re: Engine conversion?
Post by: Xtrhardcore on 12 January 2013, 11:20
Thanks for the link buddy :)
Just after some oppinions and experiences really :)
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 12 January 2013, 17:30
1.8T would be my choice for a conversion due to their tuning potential plus you why fit a VR6 when you can buy one ready fitted as standard?
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: leigh_harty on 12 January 2013, 17:32
1.8T would be my choice for a conversion due to their tuning potential plus you why fit a VR6 when you can buy one ready fitted as standard?

Usually because nobody decares them and therefor no insurances hike
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 12 January 2013, 18:27
Which coincidentally also warrants your insurance cover void.  Why bother paying for insurance in the first place?
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: tweed on 12 January 2013, 19:16
Which coincidentally also warrants your insurance cover void.  Why bother paying for insurance in the first place?


So you can get road tax  :laugh:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 12 January 2013, 20:01
Hmm  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: benvictors on 12 January 2013, 20:12
The VR is much cheaper to do but much more expensive to run. I personally would say go VR but that's cos I have one lol.
The 1.8T engine can now be had pretty cheap and if yr a whizz with wiring, then fitting is relatively easy and can be pretty cheap, I reckon you could do it for a £1500 if you have the know how.
You could do a VR for about £500.
If you are wanting to break the 200bhp barrier then forget the VR unless you have about 2 grand knocking around to Turbo it.
The upside to the VR is, if you can use tools, you can do the conversion, also, it sounds f**king immense  :laugh:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Screech16v on 12 January 2013, 20:33
I did my 1.8t conversion for about 1400,this included, oem loom done by a vw tech, new mounts, new luk vr clutch, new forge 008,new front mount ic kit ,ecu was already mapped by dna, new 3" downpipe and engine service, havnt got a clue what power its running but it does go well ,you just have to look for the bargains  :smiley:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 12 January 2013, 20:46
All the advice I have been given on here and elsewhere I am going to stick with my 16v and modify it re

polish and port cyclinder head etc or go 1.8T.  But as DCmk3 has indicated this topic has been covered

more then a few times on this forum.
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: F17BAD on 12 January 2013, 20:54
Cost wise depends how far you wanna go, can do em for peanuts if u cut corners

But on the other hand, if your mad like me, to build and fit a engine the same as whats in mine would cost you about 8k....   but your near the 400bhp mark, fully forged and super clean OEM look, Wavetrac diff in a bespoke gearbox etc


(http://imageshack.us/a/img198/8494/callenderfullsize.jpg)

(http://imageshack.us/a/img600/3587/img2751ae.jpg)

I can tell you now, id not swap this set up for any other in my mk3...
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Foreveryoungaus16v on 12 January 2013, 21:04
Show off :wink:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: tweed on 12 January 2013, 21:06
I would love to 4wd mine with a r32t

How different is the mk4 floor to the mk3?
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Wayne on 12 January 2013, 21:13
How different is the mk4 floor to the mk3?

Very different, they made a mk3 Syncho however if you can find one.
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: tweed on 12 January 2013, 21:18
How different is the mk4 floor to the mk3?

Very different, they made a mk3 Syncho however if you can find one.

Would be a start.

I read about a mk2 rallye that had a r32 engine but used all the mk4 running gear. So could use the mk3 synchro as a base
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: F17BAD on 12 January 2013, 21:22
too heavy

trust me you dont need it if you have the right Diff and gearbox..

!9 year old FWD S3 MTM golf V Evo FQ320 mapped to 405 bhp with him in front and me behind at the lights, He nails it, so do i, golf sticks to Evos Ass

in wet he is gonna beat me and in corners but i thought i did well considering
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: tweed on 12 January 2013, 21:26
too heavy

trust me you dont need it if you have the right Diff and gearbox..

!9 year old FWD S3 MTM golf V Evo FQ320 mapped to 405 bhp with him in front and me behind at the lights, He nails it, so do i, golf sticks to Evos Ass

in wet he is gonna beat me and in corners but i thought i did well considering

I say you did well too and must of been hell of a buzz

But what if you both went on a track day?

And a r32 turbo is normally around 600bhp. No diff on a fwd could handle that  :grin:

Ill never do it but we can all dream. If I had the space I would start looking for a synchro
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: F17BAD on 12 January 2013, 22:17
Yeah mate that sounds awesome haha would need 4wd for that

Tbh didnt build mine to track

I'd want the Evo for that  :smiley:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: tweed on 12 January 2013, 22:25
Yeah you don't buy mk3 golfs if you want to do track days  :grin:

If I wanted to go track I would have a GTR r33 with 600bhp but I don't.

Dream car has always been a mk3 4wd r32 powered sl*t but can't see it happening any time soon. But ill never sell the gti, I just can't do it. Tried selling to get a e36 m3 evo but I just couldn't and got talked out of it  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: F17BAD on 12 January 2013, 22:35
i know what you mean, would be hard to part with mine now with all the work me and ben have done, we have basically re built it to my dream spec!, and it was our first one too.. so its kinda special
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Ashy on 13 January 2013, 02:00
Just in the process of putting a 16V ABF into my MK3 GTI AGG 8v

Only reason I am doing this is because the shell is MINT, paid peanuts for the car and it has done me well for nearly a year but the engine is noisy & underpowered.

Was just going to carry on with it but bought a 16V last week for pocket money and it will make my mk3 a GREAT car.

Yes I know you can obviously buy mk3 16v's for cheap, but its a car I want to keep for the future & its how I want it for now..

Came from a mk4 GTI turbo, over 220 bhp, agu, ko3s, injectors etc... just too much for daily really



Love my mk3, shell is rust free somehow, think i got a " monday afternoon" one rather than a "friday evening" special.


Done so many Ford conversions in my yoooof, XR2 Turbo's, Zetec turbo's & ZVH turbos, just trying my hand at v dubs..


anyway, totally off topic but so far, took 3 hours to get engine, loom & everything else out & ready to put back in my car. worst part was brake servo for the loom. STOOOOOPID fookin place to feed loom into

Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Xtrhardcore on 13 January 2013, 11:58
Looks like I might go down the VR route I absolutely love them engines! Reason I don't want to buy one if due to my shell being Mint, and I've worked hard on non transferable parts and stuff :)
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: tweed on 13 January 2013, 12:06
Do it mate. I also love the vag v6 engines was taking mine out yesterday and only got 11mpg so be aware of its thirst
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: F17BAD on 13 January 2013, 12:42


Came from a mk4 GTI turbo, over 220 bhp, agu, ko3s, injectors etc... just too much for daily really




How was that too much for a daily ??
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Bellend on 13 January 2013, 15:12
I'm going VR6.

No idea why but just don't want to let my first car go. Nothing overly special other than no rust other then a tiny hole where it ground out on the sills.

Going VR over 1.8T as I'd do the VR properly with the budget where I'd want to do a 1.8T properly and would rather spend the thousands on a house.
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Xtrhardcore on 13 January 2013, 19:11
Yeah same here haha! I love the sound of the VR! Can't wait lol! Anyone got any tips?
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: leigh_harty on 13 January 2013, 19:23
Yeah same here haha! I love the sound of the VR! Can't wait lol! Anyone got any tips?

Yeah, drive up here and take the one out my front garden  :whistle:
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: Xtrhardcore on 13 January 2013, 20:02
Yeah same here haha! I love the sound of the VR! Can't wait lol! Anyone got any tips?

Yeah, drive up here and take the one out my front garden  :whistle:


Haha!! Not getting on with it?
Title: Re: Engine conversion opinions?
Post by: leigh_harty on 13 January 2013, 20:52
Its been removed from car waiting to be sold  :smiley: