mk 3 2.0 16 v conversion?

[jasonpi]

right ive been searching through the threads looking at a 9a conversion, was looking at the 1.8t but want to simplifiy the conversion. anyway i was under the impression that putting a 9a bottom end on the car with mods to the head could see upto 160-180 quite easily. now why are people putting in mk3 2.016 lumps in when there quite heavy and not very tuneable? maybe im wrong but i want to keep the head and just replace the bottom end can anyone clarify why people do this?

cheers

[rubjonny]

well a complete MK3 ABF unit can get 170bhp easily just by chipping it

[jasonpi]

are they straight swap jonny? and whats the weight difference in them

[rubjonny]

well it will bolt in no problems, and if you have a late MK2 the loom will plug directly into the back of the fusebox.  Main problem is the ABF lump is slightly taller, so the throttle body can hit the bonnet (putting a small dent in it solves this) and the downpipe can hit the tunnel (another dent here, or a taller front mount can be used to tilt the engine back further)

Dunno about weght difference, I don't think it will be a great deal though.

[jasonpi]

i thought the abf engine was 150bhp as standard and i thought chipping a normally aspirated engine will see between 8 and 12 bhp increase, (well thats what most chipping services claim)! and mines an early 16v so dont know if i would need to change the wiring loom? thats why a 9a bottom end for me would be perfect no messing about a straight swap as im led to believe. if only i could find one!!!

[MackyM]

Is the 9a only found in a mk3 golf gti? Would this engine be workable for example?  :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-GTi-MK3-2-0-8V-ENGINE-Seat-Toledo-SXE_W0QQitemZ4633321559QQcategoryZ9889QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


This certainly would be, though you'd have an 8V head to dispense with somewhere:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-MK3-GTI-2-0-LTR-8V-ENGINE-COMPLETE_W0QQitemZ4631125435QQcategoryZ9889QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[jasonpi]

no offence but the mk3 8v has less power than a mk2 16v  115 versus 136 or 139 i dont want to go back but forward but if ur suggesting using the bottom end a mating it to my 16v head then as jonny suggested still gonna have clearance issues and i dont know if its visable to mate it. 9a's are from corrado's passat's which are 2 litre and these are a straight swap with the original 1.8 bottom end.

[rubjonny]

you need a 2.0 16v bottom end, an 8v 2e is no good.  The reason an ABF can make 170 with just a chip , is apparently VW limited the power from the factory so they wouldn't hurt VR6 sales too much!

[mix]

we really do need an ask jonny section

[MackyM]

We certainly need a FAQ section. I just got through reading another thread which said the 2.0 bottom ends were identical on 8 and 16V mk 3 engines so it didn't matter which lump you found first. The more I know, the less I understand.