Mk3 ABF no power

[Boufon]

Hi,
Looking for ideas please!?!

We've put an Abf engine into what used to be an 8v Mk3 & the thing's got no grunt.

It's got lots of goodies from piper inlet cam & full stainless decat system inc 4 branch to TSR remapped ECU & lihgtened flywheel. We've just got it running right & idling etc but it's lifeless!!

No rough running or anything & a hint of power when you use your foot but it's almost like it's restricted by something.

I'm out of ideas so can anyone think of anything away from the engine maybe which might be different from 8 to 16v models? Fuel pump maybe or something else which wasn't changed with the engine?

Any help greatly appreciated!!

[thai-wronghorse]

Timing out?

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

Decat and 4 branch will not give it more power. Standard cams are aggressive enough. AS I understand uprated cams only work well with a ported cylinder head. Mapped Ecu will only hive it few mor BHP. I checked that ages ago with Tsr who are up the road from me. Sound advice from Glen is no point spending money on engine when the gearing is the main thing holding it back.

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

Fit a 3.94 FD or if u are really brave a 4.2

[Khare]

Plug it into vagcom to see if there's a dodgy sensor or wiring.

[Wayne]

Start with the basics, check the timing and that the throttle cable is giving full travel.

Was it running right in the donor car ?

Lots of parts are different on the 16v including the fuel pump I believe.

[Khare]

Fuel pump is the same. When I converted mine to 16v the only things that changed was the engine and gearbox, hydro clutch cylinder, driveshafts, throttle cable, airbox, radiator (16v has more cores I believe) and a couple of short fuel hoses that attach to the fuel rail.

The rest of the car is the same, including fuel pump.

[Wayne]

The rest of the car is the same, including fuel pump.

Interesting, I am sure I read somewhere that the 16v and VR had a higher pressure pump

[Khare]

Maybe so, but my ABF is running off the standard fuel pump and as you know it makes cracking power.

[Boufon]

Thanks for the thoughts:

Throttle has full travel.
Timing is good but the car runs too smooth to be that I think.
Donor car unknown but we've cleaned the head right out & lapped valves etc.
Abf gives 150bhp as standard & this must have more in it with all the extras but it really is slower than the 8v before we swapped it!

The ECU was from a seat cupra ABF - anyone know if that had different injectors or fuel pump/pressure regulator? I doubt it but I'm racking my brains here!!