gaining power

[steve@uc]

hello guys i was just wondering if any of you know of any cheap ways to gain power on my f reg 1.8 8v gti........

and what sort of mods would need to be done to a 1.6 driver to make it quicker then a 1.8 gti

[Brads MK2 GTI]

The cheapest & easiest way to make a 1.6 driver quicker than a 1.8 8v is to put in a 1.8 8v engine and start from there!

[takethefifth]

Depends on how much you are thinking is cheap....   

You could start by making it run as good as possible in its current form with things like new airfilter, decent plugs and leads, running some injector cleaner through it and changing the oil for some Synta Silver or similar.

Drilling the air box and replacing the panel filter with a k&n panel filter (£45ish?) will make it sound meatier but will not really add any power, the 57i induction kit (£70ish) will do the same!  Decent exhaust system about £300 will do the same again.... Put a stainless exhaust manifold (£250ish) on it as well and you will start to get a little more power.

From there its serious stuff like camshafts (£300), engine rebuilds/conversions and all sorts of other stuff that i wouldn't consider in anyway cheap!! Unless i win the euromillions of course....   

[russ_turner]

if it's digi, then bung a chip in!

[Si]

GTI then Chip it, exhaust, airfilter, Cams.
The trouble with tuning on a budget is that you modify one part, then you have to do something else to enhance that part!
I.e, Airfilter will help get air in quicker and easier, but you need an Exhaust and Manifold to get rid of gases quicker, then you need more fuel cause it may run too lean, so you need a Cam, and possibly uprate the lifters,etc, then to optimise what you'v done you need a Chip to remap all your sensors etc.
Easiest way to put it.... If you strengthen something, your going to weaken something else?!   

You can make a 1.6 Driver quicker than a GTI, but its not worth it unless you got a healthy engine to start with.
It will difficult to do on a budget.

[mk2_singh]

i read performance GTi mag couple of weeks ago... (it wasnt mine though, my m8z!)....... and they did a test.

performance panel filter
induction kit cone type filter
stock filter with drilled stock air box
performance filter with drilled stock air box

and did power runs after each test, the drilled air box with stock fitler won!!! most bhp increase, also max power did this few years back and they found the stock air box with drilled holes to be better as well!!!

couple of years ago i drilled my XR2 air cyclinder, its made from metal and sits ontop of the carb. And the performance gains were better than when i had a cone type filter on there.

Im quite convinced the stock air box with 10mm holes tactically placed are better than induction kits etc. When the car manufactuer designs them they spend so much time and effort on most parts and what they have come up and designed obviously stands its ground, give it a little mod like some holes etc. and you laughin free bhp gains.

Obviously this isnt the case on all cars. Works well on cars i have had experience with from XR2, 8v Gti, 205 Gti, E30 Bm.

sorry to go on so much just a though lol! 

[Si]

Drilling airbox would work well on an Injection car, such as GTI, because they have fuel / air compinsators, etc, Carbed cars run better when they are hot, and if you drill or fit airfilter you will need to adjust fuel mixture to make it run richer. Also, i wouldnt recommend doing this in the cold winter weather, you are prone to Carb freeze! Stick with the original airbox (without holes in it) until warmer weather kicks in! 

[bulk66]

Have a look round on the search thing as theres a post some were for cheep/free mods.

[16v Matt]

You're never going to make a 1.6 driver faster than a GTi Without spending a shed load of cash on it. In which case, buy a GTi.  Or just a big bottle of nitrous!  It be faster than a Gti, for a short time, before you melt a piston.

[Si]

My 1.8 Driver is quicker than a standard 8v GTI, but i dont understand why?! I think someone has done something to it before me because it even kept with a highly tuned 16v in my area upto 90ish, the 16v owner chatted to me and wouldnt believe me when i said it was a driver! 
Im seeing him again tommorow at TSR rolling road and he wants another drag with me!