Tuning Idea/engine question for mk3 golf 1.8 SPi...

[BugsyMalone666]

I have a 1.8SPi golf driver and its ok but i want more power and while a VR6 would be nice i just think a turbo might be a bit less thirsty and also i wouldnt have to buy another car!

I been having a scout round ebay and came up with a way to make a factory turbo setup(so to speak)

question is..

1) will the early 1.8 golf heads that have the injectors in the heads take electronic fuel injectors in the same holes? if not could it be done?

2) are the inlet / exhaust manifolds the same fitment on all models? do they have the same bolt fitting on all the 8 valve petrol engines and diesel engines?

heres the idea...

1.8 early golf head with injectors from an EFi golf(may need bigger for turbo) in the head its self, mk3 1.9 TDi exhaust/turbo/inlet(apparently the PD150 ones are better?)/intercooler(maybe aftermarket/bigger)/pipework, then not sure what to use in the way of throttle body/airflow meter, obviosly something compact so as to be easy to fit in with stock pipe work with minimal pipework mods. VR6 has a bigger rad than the 1.8 and is twin fans? better cooling to cope with more heat from a turbo`d engine?

i thought about this so that effectively if my golfs headgasket went or there was an excuse to take the car to bits, i could use stock airbox/pipes with K&N panel filter, stock turbo, stock inlet/exhausts so it all nicely fits in the engine bay in a stock way using factory parts bar 1 or 2 extras, the only thing im not so sure about is ECU would a mk2 digifant work with this setup (which is what i`d be using as my base setup) or would i need something different?

do we think the idea would work?

im just curious so i can accumilate parts as i see them but i could do with a little guidance from experts who been playing with golf engines for years

cheers

[ghee60]

tbh forget it, it would be far too much work for little gains.
If you want to go faster id personally look for a late 2.0 16v engine out of a mk3 golf or seat cordoba with the electronic fuel injection and jus fit that, its 150bhp out of the box.

If you are really serious about a turbo setup id go for a G60 block and head as a basis for it, then a turbo kit (which I can source/supply) and mega squirt injection. But its a very expensive way to see big power, not to mention you would need a beefier gearbox, different fuel pump, different suspension, breaks and pretty much everything else

[ghee60]

also why turbo power? I can see 180+bhp normally aspirated using bits from various golfs and a bit of scrap yard engineering

[BugsyMalone666]

im sort of thinking along the lines of what i can do without engine out as in pretty much leaving the car alone in a sense, with the beetle its a doddle to get the engine out, not quite so quick and easy with the golf?


would a mk2 EFi setup bolt straight onto the mk3 lump? to just naturally tune some more ponies out and get a better response that that stock single injector carb type thing?

[ghee60]

engines out of golf are nearly as easy as beetles aslong as youve got access to a crane.
Im not 100% familier with the SPi engine in the mk3, I mostly play with mk1's 2's and Corrado's But have dont some work on mk3 gti's.
Im betting it being basically a 1.8dx block in essence with a single point electronic injector throttle body. 1 way to get more power out of it, in theory would be to change the cam or complete head with a mk2 gti one and then go down a diy throttle body/bike carb route

Remember this is all in theory

1.8 gti mk2 head
1800 carb'd distributor like off a mk2 driver or scirocco gts 1.8
Custom Inlet Manifold, to match up to some bike carbs
Bike carb (not throttle bodies) off of a yamaha r1 before 1998 (or similar)

That would/should all work and give you a basic set up and power increase.

A more advanced way would be to use throttle bodies as opposed to carbs and use mega squirt to run it

[BugsyMalone666]

the only problem with carbs, what about the fact its got a CAT and emissions for the MOT?

will a MK2 GTi inlet manifold bolt straight on as you got 4 electronic injectors to start with and make it better for tuning?

[ghee60]

i think a mk2 gti 8v manifold will but why not get the entire head assembly

[BugsyMalone666]

actually being a bit daft, will not the mk3 2litre inlet fit? or are the 1.8/2litre heads different?

im trying to initially find a bolt on solution that could be installed with minimum work that has potential for tuning later, eg mk3 2litre inlet/engine wiring look/ECU then a remap to suit the 1.8.

cheers for your help