Golf 1.3 Ryder

[Jacko75]

I'm a new member looking for advice regarding a 1990 1.3 Ryder.  My old man has had this car for 20 years and it only has 50000 miles on the clock.  It has been kept in his garage and is immaculate inside and out.  Unfortunately he's at an age where he is struggling to drive the car due to the lack of power steering.  I don't want to see this car leave the family and so I'm going to buy him a newer car to the same value and keep this for a project.  I want to leave the car as standard as I can on the outside but would like to have some more power.  Any advice on possible engine conversions would be really appreciated.....and a view on whether this is a worthwhile project.  Basically, if you guys were in the position of having an immaculate 3 door 1.3 Ryder, what would you do?

[th3_f15t]

Definitely a keep and well worth doing mate! There's a whole range of engine swaps that are common, the main ones being a 1.8 20 valve turbo engine from a mk4 Golf GTI, a 2.8 VR6 engine from a mk3 Golf VR6 or putting something like a mk2 Golf GTI 16V engine and gearbox in.

I've just taken on a 1991 Golf Driver which I'm working on, check out my build thread if you need some ideas, I'm modifying the current 1.6 litre engine for some fun but I plan to do a fair amount of work with the running gear to improve it.

[lemski]

Dependent on how clean it is. If its immaculate id iether kepp or sell and get a not so immaculate car to chuck a engine in.
Although my mate had a 1.3 and pyt a polo gt engine with bike carbs on it.flew for what it was and still looked fairly standard. Just coilovers and the engine. Front brakes upgraded

[Jacko75]

Thanks for the feedback. I don't want to sell the car so really it's just a decision as to what the best conversion is for me. I've had two GTIs of a similar age along time ago and a VR6. Which out of the three would be less labour intensive. Not that I'm shying from the work  it's just a time issue due to family commitments.

[th3_f15t]

All are much the same in terms of labour, it depends what sort of sound and feel you want from the car. The VR6 has a lovely sound track, but the 1.8T is cheaper to extract good power from. A mk2 Golf GTI engine is probable the least labour intensive and will have the most original feel to the car.

[Jacko75]

Thanks again. Could you advise the best way of going about sourcing an engine?

[th3_f15t]

Best way is to buy a complete donor car so you have everything plus you can check everything works and runs before going ahead.

The cheaper way is to buy just the bits you need, but most of the time you can't see an engine running before so it can be a risk.

Either way, eBay is always a good channel to go through as you have some level of cover then.

[dubber36]

Basically, if you guys were in the position of having an immaculate 3 door 1.3 Ryder, what would you do?

Leave it alone. A car can only be original once. I'd keep it for nostalgic reasons and buy a faster car to go faster in.