I've been wondering about this for quite a while. How hard would it be to get a Jap four cylinder Turbo into a Mk1 Golf?

The ownership of a Mig Welder, a lathe and a heap of money and time would make it easy, but how hard would it be to do this conversion for under $10K?

The only reason I would do this would be if it turned out cheaper and quicker than any VW motor I could find.

As another alternative what about a 1.8T?
I would expect the price to be a killer on our southern shores. What sort of Dollars are we talking?
They seem to be going ape with them in the states at the moment.

I saw a T3 Synchro CrewCab with a 1.8T in it on the weekend!

An SR20DET would destroy a golf gearbox and probably CV's. Not to mention the torque steer. I can't understand people that put big motors in FWD's.

I was assuming to put all the running gear in there as well, although Golf gearboxes are very strong.

While I have a FWD I will try to put as much power into it as I can afford. There are heaps of powerful front drivers around, and IMO I think they handle better than rear drive (comparing same price same era. i.e. Ford Escort, Holden Gemini, VW Golf)

I can't understand people who ditch on other people for expressing ideas. But I'm sure you had a few people tell you that you were crazy putting a V6 into a beetle!

Where would you be if you listened to them?

Hi

I reckon a VR6 would be a good swap, a mate did it with a Golf2. If you still want to go jap IMO use a FWD motor and trans.

1302Steve

I understand the limitations with FWD stuff, I do prefer the RWD side of things for traction etc.

A Transporter 3 is my dream, but I want to do the golf first, sell it and then get the people mover I have drooled over/needed for so long now.

I also thought it would be interesting to think about more Jap stuff in our German Cars, as your Baja is already.

The SR20DET would be the ultimate, but the SR20 n.a. first would help as a stepping stone, to get mounts right, and work any running gear/suspension bugs out. Not to mention the cost.

How much is a VR6 motor and loom going for these days?

Mid to high 2's for a complete VR6 !
Interested ? I have one for sale if required !

Interested Yes! Serious No!

I haven't even gotten to the two motors you just sold me, Busman!

Although I did try to hand-crank the 1.6 over and it feels like it could be siezed. Oh Well!

VR6 - Complete meaning what? how much for a gear box? Do you have 5 spd Mk1 boxes?

Only asking - no cash to play with until
I get the floors done, a fence up and a deck put on!! The Mrs has spoken!

The SR20DET engine and FWD transmission is an excellent conversion and has been done successfully in a couple of N12 Pulsar ET's. Altho, there are a few clearance issues as far as radiators, brake boosters and turbos

The FWD version of the SR20DET produces around 210 HP which is not as difficult to handle in a smaller FWD car as the spec may suggest. They are a heavier animal than the E15 and this helps with wheelspinning and tourquesteer.
Just dont get talked into locking the diff or you will indeed have a beast to drive.

Quite a few of the quicker turbo pulsars are dynoing well over 200Kw and are completely driveable. You just need to be aware of the front end dancing when getting really busy!

The CA18DET is another option but they are not much physically different to the SR20DET and are well down on stock power compared.

You should look at a complete front cut which will have all the goodies you will need including driveshafts which will need to be grafted to the golf shafts. I seem to recall front cuts going for about 4&1/2 grand and up.

Another consideration is the gearshift assembly.

Its more a time and patience thing really rather than a money thing if you are going to undertake most of the gronk fitting and fabrication work. If you pay some dude to do it then give him a cheque with a 1 on it and let him add the noughts!!

Other than cutting and shutting of the driveshafts, fabricating radiators and possibly turbo manifolds the rest you will do yoursel
Its a matter of stripping your Golf engine bay, hanging the complete Nissan Engine/transmission assembly in place and fabricating some new mounts and gearshift linkages.

This is easy.

What may be a bit difficult is creating enough clearance for things such as turbos, radiators and brake boosters which are often overlooked.

The SR20 is a bulky engine on top which makes shoehorning them in a bit touchy but the transmissions are no bigger than any other FWD car really so that part will be easy

See iffen you can get a look at the SR package from one of the importers and run a tape measure and rule across it and see what you find against the current enginebay setup.

Go for it dude, should be a very mean weopon when you get it done!

Vroooom..pshhhhttttt..vroooooommmmmm..pshhttttt!

L8tr
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yup I second those sentiments, however if you are going for a sr20det make sure it's from a GTIr cut as they really are a much better package than the s15 silvias etc.. + u get that extra cool quad throttle body injection setup. As a side note you can fit a mini with a b18c Honda with minimal fuss so I'm certain that you could get just about anything into golf.

The B18C Honda motor, what is that out of?
Id sure like to see some pix of that.

As an aside, a mate of mine in Sydney helped out another dude who shortened, narrowed and god knows what a complete Cordia turbo engine/transmission into a mini!

he managed to wrap it back up with the mini guards and bonnet!

Lord only knows how it was done.
I never go the chance to check out the handiwork but I was assured it was certainly rather hairy chested to drive!!!
Bwaaaaahahahahaah!

L8tr
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the b18c is from the type R integra (145kw) they also put in the B16C (civic type R) (138'ish kw) both rev to 9000+ rpm. some pictures also

Crikey that would make a mighty road weopon yeah!!
Thanks for the pix dude
L8tr
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Thanks Guys, Both 555 and Tas for your helpful insights and for giving me heaps of encouragement.

The jap stuff is just so much more powerful (stock) than the German stuff, easier on the wallet and cheaper and easier to get parts for.

The equivalent 16V,G60, VR6 or 1.8T here are just too expensive if you factor in parts, labour if needed and wrecking availability.

I would love to be a purist, but it only makes sense in the UK, South Africa or America, where the little buggers are plentiful and a handful of people don't have the industry by the balls.

Too easy dude.
Good luck with it iffen you go ahead with it.
L8tr
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If size is a limiting factor, why not look at a 4AGZE. They are not as bulky as the SR20, but still pack a punch!!!

Cheers

I had forgotten about that particular engine.
What a weopon.
Overdrive the blower about 40% and light the blue touch paper and stand well back!!
That would make a good conversion for a beetle!
Bwaaahahahaha
L8tr
E

I was also considering slapping an S18 Supercharger off a Toyota (probably off the 4AGZE) on top of the 16 GTI while including a riser gasket to reduce compression. Understand this is just until I can get some cash to go further. These engine swaps would have to be long term unless anyone wants to be my best friend. :kiss

Tas, please explain blue touch paper.

Heheheheh
just a throwaway line really! I was just referring to the fireworks available from overdriving the blower and boosting its gut out!!!

There used to be that instruction on every firework you could by. The all had either fuses or twisted blue paper to light!!

AAAH! I see now! Maybe I could just get a really big firecracker and use that instead of all this engine hassle! Just light and go! Like that guy with the Jet engine strapped to the roof of his Plymouth.

Bwaaaaahahahahahahah!

That'd be it.
Strap the rocket to the dak dak!

Just for laughs, I am fitting in a 1600 tp into my F-Vee and turbocharging it!

I am using a spare T2 offen my ET Pulsar pulling thru a 45mm HIF SU carb.

This is just for hillclimbs and should be quite a laugh!
I fitted up the 1600 today and the turbo installation starts very shortly.

Ill keep yas posted.
l8tr
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Light the Blue Touch paper and stand well back!!

Should be a screamer!

hehehe I dont even know if the engines any good yet.

Ill find out when i kick her over when I find a flywheel.

L8tr dude
E