More power for my driver!!!!!!!

[rubjonny]

All I can say to you Driver owners is.... Get a real car. And a job. You student hippes.

Each to his own really, the 90 spec 8v GTI is one of the best bases for most engine conversions, as it already has the MK3 engine loom, and the digifant fuel system needed for most later engines.  It also has all the nice extras that you need to work hard to fit on a Driver (even though though I basically turned mine into a GTI with a 1.6 engine and suspension!)
Most notibly a decent ratio gearbox, ARBs & rear discs!  Not that any of that are essential but ARBs at least make a big difference to the way the Golf drives, and its nice to not have to mess about dropping the subframe!

The advantage of buying a driver is generally they are easier to find in good unmolested condition, GTIs tend to have passed through the hads of at least 1 chav and a clueless muppet with just enough car maintenance knowledge to be dangerous!

My 1.6 Driver was a dream to work on, everything was where it should be, and my current GTI was an absolute nightmare with lots of horrible bodges and nasty 'fixes' which had to be undone.

[firstVW]

Cheers barkstar, rubjonny. Sounds like good advice from people who know their stuff, which is just what i need! What other mods do you think would justify a gti manifold?

[VeeDubGTI16v]

Ah.. if only I had a £1 for everyone who suggests getting a GTi if you've got a Driver, a 16V if you've got an 8V, a 2L 16V if you've a Std 16V , or a VR6  or a Saturn 5 etc etc etc.
If you want more go from a Driver fit a GTi cam, which is a cheap and fairly simple job. I'm not sold on changing the manifold unless you've done other mods. From there it depends on how much you want to spend. I'm building a 2L block with a modded late GTi head and either a 266 or 276 cam. And that little lot should give me something approaching 130bhp and a nice pile of torque.
Sure I could go get a 16V or fit another engine but I don't want to, I like the simplicity of a carb after having had K-jet and Digifant fun and games in the past. Oh and I'm putting the Driver badges back on, because there's nothing like a Q car for p***ing Mercs and Beemers off.
Barkstar 

so you have tuned a driver just so you can have a carb? and it wont be a q car lol

[Veedubgt18v]

All I can say to you Driver owners is.... Get a real car. And a job. You student hippes.

oy im a (25yr old) student hippie and i have a gti and a old skool beetle........

cheeky fecker

[barkstar]

so you have tuned a driver just so you can have a carb? and it wont be a q car lol

I got the Driver because I couldn't find a GTi locally that wasn't a heap and I need a car sharpish. I was £300 with loads of ticket and came with a GTi cam and Weber already fitted. After a world of hurt with a k-jet Mk1 and Digipants Toledo I'm more than happy with a carb but I didn't set out to get one. It's pretty much as quick as a GTi and has most of the extras you get with a GTi anyway so why change? I've never spent a lot on a car - never saw the point - and I'm a habitual modder, the only one I've had that stayed std was the Toledo.

I haven't done anything to the outside, so no big bumpers and fat alloys, so it looks like an old Golf shopping trolley, once it's got the 2L in I'd call it a Q car. In the words of a certain Mr Clarkson 'looks ordinary but goes like a rat up your trousers'. 

To answer firstVW's question. Well with a GTi cam fitted you might get a bhp or two more with a GTi manifold and it's downpipe (can't have one without t'other) but it's a bit of a job to change unless you've got access to a garage ramp. And as your Driver is a 1.6 you'll need to alter the exhaust system where it meets the downpipe as the GTi and 1.8 Drivers are a bigger diameter. If you fitted a ported head, 2L block or a lumpy cam the std manifold will start to restrict things. If you have the motor out or the head off it's easy to change and they're not expensive 2nd hand but otherwise I'd leave it be. Once you've changed the cam I'd look at uprating the suspension.
Barkstar 

[Diamond Hell]

Make sure the Weber is jetted right - a good dyno shop will tell you that.  If you're into dyno-ing it then feed it on 97 or 98RON fuel and advance the ignition and you might well get a bit more power...... just remember to feed it on super the whole time if you're advancing it.

You could also try competition digital ignition like MegaSpark which will allow a much more accurate advance curve and give you better power.

Obviously you HAVE told your insurance company about all of these drivetrain mods, right?

And you HAVE fitted vented 239discs on the front to bring it to a stop better?

[firstVW]

Barkstar, iv got koni dampers on the rear and and fully adjustable sports springs and shocks up front, will this do?

Diamond hell, only had it a few weeks but always put super unleaded in. The guy that owned it before said that was all he put in it too. Insurance company know about all mods and its got drilled or vented 239discs, can't remember which.

And bradsmk2gti, we all have to start somewhere and for some of us just owning a golf is enough. Oh and im pretty sure it is a real car, yep, engine, chassis, steering wheel, wheels and it moves too, miracle! And i don't quite know how i got here, considering i dont have a 'real car', but i seem to be at work!

[Dizzie]

because there's nothing like a Q car for p***ing Mercs and Beemers off.
Barkstar 

Is that BMW 316's and nothing else then?

[barkstar]

Is that BMW 316's and nothing else then?

The 316s are not problem now , and I'm not talking 100mph plus races on the motorway, or traffic light grand prixs. I'm talking about real roads (and the Wilmslow bypass  ) and being that irritating old Golf that's still in the rear view mirror. I've got the handling nicely set up and just need a bit more grunt on the uphill bits.

It'll be no ultimate but you still see plenty of old Golfs tootling to the shops and it looks just like that, only it doesn't go like that or get driven like that either. Your 20VT doubtless goes like the clappers but it looks like it should do as well. I've had better Q cars in the past but I'm happy getting the drop on cars that should be quicker and cost 50 times as much.

Funny how a Driver that'll end up as least as quick as a std 16V attracts so many witty remarks - when no one ever says a 16V is slow. Funny old world.
Barkstar 

[VeeDubGTI16v]

yeah but if you put that much effort into a 16v it would be quicker still. anyway your driver is basically a 2.0 8v gti now  which isnt really a driver