From the conversation i had last night, the improvement may not be in the place you want it.
a 2ltre conversion will increase your power, but under normal circumstances, wont increase your acceleration. your benefit is top end.
it seems that because you are not changing the bore size, only the length of the travel of the piston; the pistol has further to travel. the increased volume size of the cylinder gives you the extra power, but the extra distance that each stroke now takes saps the engine of its ability to accelerate as quickly as an engine that has a short stroke.
so, a 1.8 8v will accelerate faster or at least hold it own on a 2litre, but the 2litre will take you to a higher speed and it will be stronger at accelerating at higher speeds.
But, you still wont catch a 16v on the 0-60, however, you may eventually reach its top speed.
Tin