Decisions Decisions....

[Neo Badness]

Just wanted peoples opinion before I lash silly amounts of money.

Have just started a new job and have a few pennies that I'd like to make my mk2 16v a bit quicker. It has standard induction with K&N panel filter 4 branch and s/s exhaust. That's about it. Has 111k on the clock.
I bought it to replace my mk3 16v as I like mk2's better and that's what I've had previously albeit 8vs.

Now i do still have mk3 sitting outside my house as an MOT fail on few bits and bobs but motor is good and "breathed on", my original plan was to 'drop' the ABF engine in complete over the summer as my project, alah DannyP.
Or could break it or reMOT and sell.
However, thinking about insurance, ball ache etc, wondering if I'd be as well doing an exchange on the original KR motor getting it rebored to 1.9/2.0ltr?

'scuse the long post but just wondered what the consensus was as my girlfriend gets that glazed look when I think out loud about these things

[DarnPB]

The cheapest way of doing it would be the engine transplant. A rebore is not that expensive, but new pistons are. Mind you, saying that, a great deal of satifaction would be acheived if you did 'zero time' your engine, but at the cost of a great deal of cash. You would need to consider where to draw the line too, ie, head work, valves, (standard or big b@stards), cams, which are not cheap either. You could end up with a fire breathing monster producing over 200bhp, but like I said, the cost just goes up and up.
With the ABF engine you have sitting in your MKIII, you have the perfect donor. Engine, gearbox, loom etc. I believe DannyP acheived onwards and upward of 170bhp with one of these lumps, minus of course, the CAT.
I would remove the ABF, remove the sump and head and give the engine a thorough service and freshen up. This will not set you back big bucks. Just time, a gasket set, an oil pump and possibly a set of shells, and if you wanted to go further, a bore deglaze and a fresh set of rings. With just this work, you will free up alot of power and have peace of mind for a good strong reliable engine.

[Diamond Hell]

Ummmmm, we didn't do anything with Danny's motor and it did 173bhp on InterPro's rollers, with a 4-branch and de-cat.

In hindsight, I think the one thing we *should* have done and will be doing to other motors is getting the injectors sonic-cleaned and tested - with electronic injection this is a major factor to reliability and performance! 

Failure/degradation of injector No.4 was what caused Danny's engine to encounter catastrophic failure.

Stick the G3 set up in your G2 - you won't regret it.

[DarnPB]

Ummmmm, we didn't do anything with Danny's motor and it did 173bhp on InterPro's rollers, with a 4-branch and de-cat.

I didn't say you did. It was just to say that these engines are powerfull enough without the bolt on holdbacks insisted upon by legislation of the time.

[danny_p]

the bores, rings, pistons and pump were all pritty much optimal on mine when it was torn down to have a look at why it went bang.

cly 4 looked to have been running leaner than the others and the exhaust valves had defantly got hotter main suspect was the injector,  the terminal fail was rod bolt on number 4. 

i wouldn't bother rebuilding,   as have done to it's replacement a FULL service and sort out any niggels  it will   

[Mk2George]

Interesting thread. My 16v KR G2 has done nearly 175k and seems a little flat and tappy to me so Im in the same place as far as changing engines is concerned. Ideally Id like to get the original engine rebuilt and `added` to as mentioned earlier but the costs seem a bit OTT - Then again Im not sure how easy it is to completely change the engine, I take it you would need loom, ecu from the G3 but not the clocks etc?   

Hmmmmm

[Neo Badness]

 Cheers for the feedback guys.
 I think I'm leaning towards swapping in the 2.0ltr, no replacement for displacement and all that. Would like the idea of keeping the car with it's original engine but also I just miss the 'shove' from my mk3 and, as has been much discussed on other threads it is a far heavier car than the mk2... Never had it on the rollers as I don't know anywhere up here that does it, but it felt quick and used to keep up with my mates RX8 when he thrashed it, only ever a couple of car lengths behind. So should be a hoot in the lighter chassis, I even have a spare non immobilised ecu sitting in the cupboard!!

 I'll be scanning the site and asking lots of questions as I've only changed spark plugs before this but I've been buying bits and bobs and come pay day I'll be getting a few other odds and ends like gasket set for ABF, got new leads/dizzy etc

Now do mk2 drive shafts fit the mk3 'box? as i think i'll be keeping it 4 stud for time being...

getting the injectors sonic-cleaned and tested

know anywhere that does this? Or would it be as well purchasing a brand spanky new set?* (haven't priced a new set yet so may well retract that)

Mk2George I reckon the general opinion is to find a SEAT or VW with the ABF in it and then get it in your mk2...

[ToddyGTi]

No the the MK2 Shafts will not fit your MK3 box.

You have the option of swapping over the whole subframe and running a MK3 set up on the front (which also gives you a wider track) or you can just change the engine over but you will have to remove the MK3 Flywheel and replace it with your original one then use a MK2 clutch setup and the original gearbox.

I've ABF'd my current Golf and my old one, the old one (granted running digi inj.) pushed over 200 ponies without spanking thousands.
Best move you can make imo

[danny_p]

the abf dosent use conventioal bocsh injectors means new ones are bit hard or expensive to source.

[Neo Badness]

Cheers for the knowledge.

ToddyGTi what did you do to yours to get it pushing 200? I was thinking a light port and polish of ABF head with 4branch.

danny_p , out of curiosity what injectors does ABF use? And who would you get them sonic blasted by? Wpould it be dealer only part?

My girlfriend can't understand why I'm taking out a perfectly good gti engine to replace with another gti engine... she just doesn't get it