Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2000 20:40:23 -0700
Reply-To: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
Subject: Re: A3 8v, VR6 or 1.8T? (was: Thinking swap?)
In-Reply-To: <204640794C39D211A21700805FA735210CD7C553@ahqex1.rei.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Scott
The "ABA" engine in the A3 (1993 to 1999 Golf and Jetta) is a great engine
- came in two flavours - OBD-1 1993 to 1995 and OBD-2 1996 to 1999. The
use the Motronic system just as the VR6 and 1.8T engines to. These are
fantastic engines as they are very smooth, have superior lubrication (as
compaired to the 1.8L and 2.0L audi) and can benafit from things like
performance chips. I have prepaired a few ABA engines for customers and
they like them very much. The biggest problem with the 2.0L "crossflow"
engine is the intake manifold - you have about 3" more of clearance you
have to make than a simular 1.8L - you will have to modify you engine cover
on a 50 deg conversion kit or make a 5" box on top of your cover with a 15
deg conversion kit. This is why the Eurospec and TTI conversions use a
1.8L head on a 2.0L block - which are identical for valve and chamber size
(i.e. little to no power difference). I recommend to my customers to
install a 1.8L Digifant or CIS head on a 2.0L block so they don't have a
super tall engine to worry about - another benafit of this is less
complicated engine wiring. The VR6 and the 1.8T are basically the same
engine - I hear a lot of people out there now laughing at me but there is
one important reason why I say this - the VR6 is almost 250 lbs heavier
than the 1.8T - a few month back European Car magazine did a comparison of
the Golf IV with a VR6 and 1.8T - the 1.8T was basically tied with the VR6.
Another advantage to the 1.8T is that a simple $150 chip will bring it to
180hp - more power than the VR6 - a chip and a K04 turbo will give you 220+
hp mind you that is a couple of grand for the upgrade. All are great
engines - it comes down to speed costs money - how fast you go comes down
to how much money and time you have!
At 09:27 AM 07/09/2000 -0700, Scott Catlin wrote:
>With all this swap talk, I'm surprised that no one has been talking about
using the 8v engine from an A3 Jetta. A friend of mine had this done and,
although I never rode in the car, it seemed to be a viable option. Anyone
have any good or bad thoughts about installing that engine, or even the VR6
or 1.8T? I realize that it would involve installing most of the running
gear from the same car (brakes at the least), anyone done this, know of
anyone who has, or have any thoughts as to procedure? I'm thinking of
something like this when I get my Vanagon, in addition to a lowered stance.
>
>Thanks in advance for input,
>- Scott
>
>
-- David Marshall - Volkswagen Enthusiast - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
-- 78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Iltis, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westfalia --
-- 85 VW Cabriolet, 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 VW Syncro Double Cab --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page http://www.volkswagen.org --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning http://www.fastforward.ca --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --
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