3.6 VR6 mk2 Golf rear/AWDrive for a project? ;)

[ritter1]

Right guys, starting my first year of 3 in uni doing a motorsport design and management course and I know maybe towards the end of the first year and probably the 2nd and 3rd years, I can choose any project I want. Plus, I recently set my heart on getting myself a scrapped mk2 for very cheap money and making myself a track car/ rally car etc by sticking in a VR6 and changing it to at least rear wheel drive, hopefully AWD.

Now, seeing as the car wouldnt see a road for years if I was to make one, I wouldnt need to worry about insurance or tax or whatever. So I would make it as fast a car as possible, as balanced a car as possible and as good a handling car as possible.

Originally, My plan was to get the more 'standard' engine for such a conversion in the 2.9 VR6 from a corrado and boring it out to 3.2 (ive heard it can be done), and then the obvious in performance exhaust, chipping, re-mapping, manifold, headers... whatever can be bought put on and, seeng as my course involves designing and building performance parts and such, whatever could be done but isnt out there could be made. However, I got a wild idea today, why not stick the big one in it? the 3.6 VR6, then get that chipped, re-mapped and everything else.

Okay, I heard one of those engines from the manufacturer can cost 17 grand, but im sure eventually you could come across a scrapped car with one in it, there r enough idiots out there with these big engined Passats and such.

So what do you guys think? If possible, go for the big one or stick with the more 'conventional' conversion. And what do you guys think? rear wheel drive or AWD. I like the idea of having the option of rallying it but I would very rarely use it anywhere but on the track so...

So, in general, what do guys think of the idea of a fully upgraded modified mk2 with a 3.6 VR6 (nearing 600bhp i think as stock), racing brake upgrades, suspension, stripped out, everything?

Of course, this is all very expensive and would probably take years for me to do, and I probably wont start anything for nearly a year, but gotta start dreaming as soon as possible lol :P

[macmillions]

Lol, to be honest, if you've got the money and time, do it. You can make anything possible if you can throw enough time and money into it.

If you cant get hold of a 3.6 V6, how about a 3.2 from the R32 Golf? there are loads around so I imagine more easily to source a written-off one. And I imagine you wouldn't be far off the power figures of the R36's, after fully modded.

[zollaf]

if you want the best handling, then mid engine it. put the vr6 where the back seats are and rear drive it, or awd, but you would have to fiddle with the gearbox a bit. this plan would involve lots of welding and headscratching, but if the workshop is available???

[Crasher]

Ohh the innocence of youth! I have been building specials for 20 years, that project would make my eyes bleed never mind yours.

The VR6 was never used front engine RWD so you would have to devise a full transmission layout, clutch, adapter plate, propshaft, rear axle, rear suspension, rear brakes, fuel tank system, exhaust etc and then convert the front to no drive which is actually very easy.

Yes a 3.2 can be built inside the 2.8/2.9 12v block but they are very expensive to build.

You would not chip the 3.2 ECU as it would not work terribly well in your installation, you would start from scratch with a bespoke ECU.

Not sure I like you considering a lot of Passat 3.6 VR6 drivers to be idiots, there are not very many 3.6 UK Passat’s and they may take offence at your judgment on their driving skills.

Where do you get a “stock” 3.6 as having nearly 600 BHP? The R32 has 299BHP.

[ritter1]

lol, the 600 bhp rating must have been for the turboed version in the Porsche Cayenne. As for my comment on the drivers, I didnt mean to offend anyone, but over the last 2/3 months ive come across 2/3 3.6 Passats/Touareg's being driven very stupidly. particularly one Touareg that drove a uturn at a no u turn set of lights while they were on red and then weaving in and out of traffic and nearly crashing into a school bus with a load of young kids in, then arguing whilst driving with the driver of the bus. Sorry if anyone was offended by that, but I guess Ive been given a bad impression.

As for devising clutch plates, transmission layouts etc. That is a large part of the course I am currently doing, although probably slightly out of the reach of doing it at uni. but the majoritory of that is included in the course, the design,l manufacture, testing of all these things.

Zollaf, your idea of mid engine layout is very interesting, okay, ALOT more work but still, the car would definitely not be for road use. As for the workshop issue, a project such as this would be almost guaranteed to be accepted to keep the car in the uni's workshop and for the work to be done there.

[Crasher]

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S has a 550 BHP 4.8 litre V8!

I come across BMW’s being driven badly every time I go on the road.

[ritter1]

cant ever trust the internet can you haha, i did some research into the engine and somewhere I read one particular version of the 3.6 could put out nearing 600BHP and was capable of (with mods) 1k BHP, but can never trust anyone it seems haha.

And of course, whenever you are out driving, you see many idiots. I mean, there are more than their fair share of idiot boy racers in Golfs out there and (dont know if you remember all my other posts) I own a mk3 golf myself. So I dont mean that all young lads in Golfs r idiots or bad drivers, just stating there r a fair number. I meant the same with my comment about Passat drivers, I was merely stating there are enough out there that 3.6 VR's must turn up in a written off car eventually.

But r you saying I shouldnt even attempt this conversion? I saw a mk2 Golf on eBay earlier today, current bid £10. haha, 10 quid for a mk2 golf, its front end has been taken off as they were planning on putting a VR6 in it themselves, they r selling the suspension and everything, its just in bits. Almost perfect for what I have in mind, some of the works already done. but if you think this would be far too much, I may have to reconsider. Not wise to jump into something headfirst when an expert tells you differently, unless you know you are right, but in this case, i am absolutely not. lol.

[zollaf]

look at an old group B rally car. rs200, metro 6r4, lancia stratos simmbughini or ivor bug etc. they are all mid engined 4x4. i have seen a few conversions of this type in various car magazines over the years, where basically you use the front driveline and put it in the rear. this is easy but only gives you rear drive, so you need to use a 4x4 gearbox from a 4x4 golf or similar, but turn the rear output round to face the front? build this into a space frame that looks like a golf, and about £100000 later you will end up with a nice car.good luck


ps. the worst drivers are tractor drivers.

[ritter1]

lol, yep, it costs ALOT haha. im thinking maybe the good old 2.8/2.9 VR6 in the front with uprated suspension and brakes and stuff and maybe rear wheel drive would be best. I mean, I only want to do this as a project, to see just how quick and how good a car I can make for as little money as possible to take on the track, maybe eventually enter amateur races and such with. Its going to be a hobby really, and hopefully a part of my final project in uni.

I suppose mid engined rear wheel drive wouldnt be too costly or difficult. I have some understanding of what would be needed, and 4x4 gearboxes, diffs and stuff wouldnt be needed. It would just involve alot of welding, grinding, and mostly swearing lol. And im sure such a project would take pride of place in the workshop at uni and it would be a group of us working on it, and between us we would have all the equipment and ability. Just little experience in such conversions lol. But im sure one of the good old, original VR6's wouldnt cost too much to put in the middle of a cheap scrapped mk2 and swapping drivelines and stuff.

And you are almost right, tractor drivers are almost the worst, but they r a close third after bus and taxi drivers lol.

[zollaf]

dont see many buses or taxis in these parts, just tractors.
any how, if youve got the opportunity to build something, then do it, as you dont know when youll get another chance. personally, i would just put the whole front drive assembly in the back, put a prop to another diff in the front and do a 4x4. i must admit that im more used to playing with landrovers in this respect, but im sure the golf could be done.