Finally started my 2.0 16v 9a conversion

[Devon Joe]

yesterday picked up 9a engine+box out of a 1990 passat gl for £130 for my faithful (and failurefull) '89 16v
stripped 9a head etc today and found the bores are in ace condition..which is lucky as i had no idea of pissat's mileage (digi mileometer)
also gonna fit the gearbox too (after swapping the hydraulic clutch etc) as it has a longer 5th gear.

so far so good. will fit new oil pump before bolting kr head on and chucking it back in the car
hopefully i can rolling road it (if it starts/runs ) to see what a direct swap does- my '89 16v has oem airfilter, 50mm inlets, and complete standard exhaust- all these bits are newish so it should show what a cheapo 2.0 conversion does versus standard 1.8 16v. (my GiT has good and bad days so probably no point rollingroading it as a reference)

originally bought a complete 1990 8v 9a passat off ebay for £99.00 which was supposed to provide engine but the car was too good to scrap and so fixed it and have been driving it daily before i flog it. did 42mpg cullompton-gatwick return so longer 5th gear defo better for economy. quite pokey too...cant wait for the torque from a 2.0 16v
and yes i used to have an 8v...

[sportline_velly]

the word on da street is to use a 42mm inlet manifold, you get more mid range torque.

hope it all goes well, i may go 2.0 as ive run out of money to do my 20vT

[Devon Joe]

Ace, thanks for that, at least inlet manifold is easy to change. will try both for sure!

I split engine and gearbox tonight and realised passat box also has cable change and the actual casing is different to the 16v golf box so can i fit the passat gearlever/cables etc easily?or can i convert it to rod change?

maybe i should fit an 8v golf box instead which has a longer 5th anyway

[sportline_velly]

personally i with stick with a rod change box and a 16v one at that.

i know a few people who have fitted an 8v box to a 16v and its just not the same. (but that is on 1.8 lumps not 2.0)

[rubjonny]

internally the 8v & 16v rod change boxes are the same, as are the rod change boxes fitted to the early MK3 GTIs (they use MK2 16v boxes)

Many 16v owners like the 8v box as it gives more relaxed cruising in 5th, but you have to check the gearbox codes so you know exactly what you're getting

[sportline_velly]

internally the 8v & 16v rod change boxes are the same, as are the rod change boxes fitted to the early MK3 GTIs (they use MK2 16v boxes)

Many 16v owners like the 8v box as it gives more relaxed cruising in 5th, but you have to check the gearbox codes so you know exactly what you're getting

the boxs on the early mk3 are higher geared, trust me, yo dont want to put one of them on a valver, it totally spoils the drive.