Mk3 golf 1.4 engine swap

[Miss-VW]

Hi all,

hope this is the right place to post this. Basically, I am planning on purchasing a mk3 2.0l 16v GTI engine with 92k on the clock, as well as the wiring loom for £400 at the end of the month. It's for an engine conversion on a 1.4 8v mk3.

Apologies in advance, but im a 19 year old female with very little knowledge on cars! My dad is slowly teaching me the basics but I just need a complete list of things that will need to be replaced for the conversion as my dad isnt 100% sure. I am not doing the conversion myself obviously, a family friend who specialises in conversions has agreed to do it for me, on the basis that I supply the necessary bits and peices.

I just need a simple list so I can go and get all the right bits and hand it all over to the mechanic, with a wedge of cash and say "there ya go!"

Any info and advice much appreciated. x

[euroslap]

Do a VR6 swap (you'll get one for the same money), much better engine swap and noise. Before thinking of doing either change the brakes, the brakes on the 1.4 aren't even close to being up to the job.

You'll also need the loom, keys, ecu and clocks from the donor car as they're all coded and the car won't run without. You're best bet is to buy an entire car that's either been crashed or a rotten one so everything you need for the conversion is there.

[Miss-VW]

Yeah I was considering a VR6 but I'm thinking about the insurance and the cost of petrol too! I would absolutley love a VR6 but isn't there alot more work involved?

As for the brakes, I was gonna go to the brakers and pick up some second hand ones from a GTI but I might just splash out and get some brand new uprated ones.

[euroslap]

There'll be exactly the same amount of work doing either as pretty well everything has to be changed. If you buy a donor car GTi or VR6 you'll have everything you need including 288mm brakes as standard, rear disks, correct sized master cylinder to run the bigger brakes, you'll also get a better interior and everything you don't use and what's left over after being removed from your's you'll be able to sell to make the money back.
Insurance may be not as bad as you think just have a ring around, firstly I'd try my insurers Brentacre that specialise in modified VW's and the forum insurers Chris Knott.

[Miss-VW]

I have looked around for a cheap GTI that hasnt been ragged to hell and im having trouble finding one that has good mileage. All the ones ive seen have all done 130k+ with the sellers asking for around £1500 upwards.

If im going to buy a complete car, I don't want to spend more than £800, my mileage on my 1.4 is around 112k, so obviously don't want an engine that's done more than that.

I'll definitley consider a VR6 now, im just worried that it will drink petrol like anything and I'll soon regret putting in a 2.8 Im going to check out your recommended insurers aswell, I passed my test in July this year but was going out supervised driving for a year prior - i reckon my insurance will be sky high, what with all the other modifications that I have planned. Im having a respray and a euro style kit fitted aswell, the interior is well on the way to being changed aswell to red and black leather AND the sound system.

Alot of work involved

[euroslap]

Brentacre don't actually charge any extra for body mods, they really are good. As far as buying a donor goes, be patient and trawl ebay/autotrader for a write-off that's taken a rear end hit (all the bits you need won't be affected). You should be able to buy a donor for £800 if you're patient and you should be able to make most of this back selling the leftover parts and weighing in the spare shell.

You should get £100 back off your engine and about £70/80 for the gearbox off your's for starters.

[Miss-VW]

Ok cool, obviously this car is my only mode of transport so how long does an engine conversion take to do? Bearing in mind it's a pretty a easy conversion.

Also, im not sure what to do first? The body mods or the engine. Once the sound system is in and the kit, the car is going to be alot slower, so im thinking the engine conversion first?

If I don't go along with buying a complete car - what's the list of things needed? Just so i know. x

[euroslap]

Ok cool, obviously this car is my only mode of transport so how long does an engine conversion take to do? Bearing in mind it's a pretty a easy conversion.

Also, im not sure what to do first? The body mods or the engine. Once the sound system is in and the kit, the car is going to be alot slower, so im thinking the engine conversion first?

If I don't go along with buying a complete car - what's the list of things needed? Just so i know. x

You'll need the entire loom, ecu, clocks, keys, radiator, piping, engine & box, entire braking system, hubs, driveshafts, wheels (they have 5 stud not 4), you could probably do with swapping the suspension over aswell for the extra weight of the new engine, exhaust, gear linkages and possibly more. Hence the reason for buying a car otherwise you'll end up spending more money with more time off the road as you discover bits along the way that you need and haven't got.

If the guy knows what he's doing and prioritises your car he could probably get it done in a week or two with all the parts needed.

[Miss-VW]

Right! ok, thanks for all of that

Looks like Ill be buying a car to swap everything over!

[euroslap]

It also makes the conversion easier when you can phisically see where everything comes off/goes back on and how and where it's fitted.