DIY engine rebuild?

[Waspy]

My priorities change all the time with this car! But ATM I am sacking off the idea of a 20vt and just keep it all standard(ish).

Is a DIY engine rebuild possible for a complete novice? You have to learn somewhere right? And it is something I would really like to give a go, I just don't want to get started and realise i am way over my head. When I say novice, I really mean in terms of the engine. It's the only but of the car I haven't really touched yet, everything else I have, so mechanically I'm not too scared, just looking for a few opinions.

As a side point I'll probably make it 2l while I'm at it, why not?

[gazareth]

orite waspy. doing an engine rebuild depends a lot on how the engine behaves beforehand. like if its belching smoke or low on compression readings. a gti bottom end will do an easy 250k if driven wisely and with regular oil changes. its the cylinder heads that usually let them down around 100k-150k. but I get the feeling your after the 2.0 power now which is just a case of 2.0 headgasket and the timing belt and covers. pulls so much better with the 2.0 but you should consider a fast road cam to as the 2.0 pulls better at low rpm but gets choked after 5k.

[Waspy]

It's been a while since I did a compression test, but I think one cylinder was down, it also sips coolant, and oil. Not amazingly fast, but it does. So I think I came to the conclusion the head gasket was on its was out, and the oil seals are probably done. The engine is touching 200k now, so think a refurb and upgrade for its 200k birthday would be nice

[Sgt_Lemon]

I don't think a full engine rebuild is too much of a big ask for an 8v. I have rebuilt the head twice on my engine. Definitely worth an engine stand investment, mine was only £30 off gumtree.
Valve spring compressors go up in stages with price, I done the 8v with the bog standard set and it took quite a long time, wouldn't touch either of my 20v heads with them though.
You could drop the engine out (no crane needed on a mk2) and send the head off to the man in the shed. Ported, polished, big valve upgrade for a good price.
Buy yourself a nice cam off fleabay along with a 2.0l bottom end.
Bolt it all together with a good free flowing exhaust
Enjoy your 150+ bhp doing it the old school way

[Waspy]

I don't think a full engine rebuild is too much of a big ask for an 8v. I have rebuilt the head twice on my engine. Definitely worth an engine stand investment, mine was only £30 off gumtree.
Valve spring compressors go up in stages with price, I done the 8v with the bog standard set and it took quite a long time, wouldn't touch either of my 20v heads with them though.
You could drop the engine out (no crane needed on a mk2) and send the head off to the man in the shed. Ported, polished, big valve upgrade for a good price.
Buy yourself a nice cam off fleabay along with a 2.0l bottom end.
Bolt it all together with a good free flowing exhaust
Enjoy your 150+ bhp doing it the old school way

This mystery man in the shed, I see him everywhere! he must have refurbed thousands of heads and still he is referred to as "the man in the shed" haha. That was all pretty much my plan actually! Although I didn't know it could yield 150bhp! 50% increase on an (almost) original engine? Would be rude not to.

Thanks for the info man

[roberto]

its more than likely the cylinder head is on its last legs so if its high revs power your after get a re-con gasflowed head and a fast road cam. if its low revs power your after stick in a 2.0 with standard re-con head and standard gti cam along with a mk3 diesel gearbox for more relaxed cruising. of course if budget allows you could combine the whole lot . if I were you I would buy a second engine to strip down for practice. grab a decent manual and lay all parts out methodically and keep things clean. its easy if your keen enough

[Sgt_Lemon]

He does have a name but I'm not sure I should say aha. Big NA power is possible. A friend has had a 2L 8v with get 174 bhp at the rollers but this was with multiple gas flws and back and forth with the man in the shed. The bottom end was also lightened and balanced.
A certain hillclimber has also told of 8v engines running over 200 bhp but they weren't really road cars

[hardmonkeys]

Keep us posted, it's a job I haven't been confident to try, I'd love to follow your progress

[VW BUSH]

I really fancy a Mk2 with a Mk3 ABA cross flow head on a 2.0 bottom end.
You could go turbo or Throttle bodies but even as std N/A injection this engine combo is good for a lot of go.
Been looking it up on Vortex to see how much it would cost....

[Waspy]

Keep us posted, it's a job I haven't been confident to try, I'd love to follow your progress

Not sure how fast it will get started. It's my daily, so might end up buying another engine, rebuilding that (or pulling mind and sticking the second one in, so I can keep my original engine ) but I will keep you posted for sure!