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1.8T swap

3254 Views 35 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  zaskar
I have a 1986 Vw Gti and i have found a 1.8T, tranny and pretty much everything i need. i have a few questions. i need to switch shift linkages to the cable one, can i still use my stock lever? also will the driveshafts off my Gti work on the 1.8T tranny? will my stock motor mounts work with the 1.8T? also i have to switch to the drive by wire set up and the person im buying the motor from is throwing in the petals and everything to do it. do the drive by wire petals bolt into the gti? thanks for any help you guys can give me.
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Re: 1.8T swap (VwGTi31)

http://home.columbus.rr.com/dubparts/Andyproj1.html may help a little bit. personally though i'd look for an AEb 1.8t and then you won't even have to bother with the DBW crap
Re: 1.8T swap (VwGTi31)

AEB is the way to go. DBW is quirky and feels spongy. You can use any 4cyl tranny. The 02J that comes with that 1.8t will require mods. You'll need to adapt a cable shift sys. including the shifter assy. and you'll also need to install the hyd. clutch setup. You'd save a lot of headache finding an AEB out of a '98 or so Passat or A4 and use your existing tranny..Even if it is a screaming deal, I'd pass on the DBW....


[Modified by Project20v, 8:49 AM 2-7-2002]
Re: 1.8T swap (VwGTi31)

the 1.8T transmission has 108mm drive shaft flanges. your '86 probably has 90mm. the transmission will fit otherwise. you need a G60 style front mount bracket or the one from the 1.8T (im not quite sure because mine didnt come with the 1.8t one so i have never realy seen it.) you can use your stock transmission if you put the flywheel/clutch onto the 1.8t motor. if you only plan on running the motor stock it will be fine but if you get a chip or a boost controller it will start to slip. I have heard that even the very expensive 16v aftermarket clutches will slip as well. I changed to a G60 transmission with g60flywheel, and vr6 friction plate/pressure plate. it seems fine now and its the stongest stock setup possible.
the only pedal you need from the donor car is the gas pedal, and why would you think it would bolt right on to your car that is 15 years older than the car it was designed for??
Again I have to say that the DBW stuff is not crap and its not difficult. its one less cable in the engine bay. Its the immobilizer that can be a bit of a problem, and thats not tough at all.
DAN '90 GTI 1.8T
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Re: 1.8T swap (VwGTi31)

quote:[HR][/HR]? thanks for any help you guys can give me. [HR][/HR]​
I would have to agree with project20v. Stay away from DBW motors, and get an early AEB setup.
scarywoody thanks for the props.. I have a new photoalbum up and running, and trying to get put back together from the whole photopoint deal gone bad.
Check out this:
http://community.webshots.com/user/montanagreenmachine
Good luck with your project
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Re: 1.8T swap (Montanagreenmachine)

People that are afraid of DBW make me laugh
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Re: 1.8T swap (john stephenson)

YOU make me laugh John, have your ever driven a DBW car? It SUCKS full throttle 1/2 way down, 2.2 second lag at full throttle shifts, stomp on both pedals at the same time, thats a good one to try for yourself so I'll leave the answer open.
Re: 1.8T swap (john stephenson)

quote:[HR][/HR]People that are afraid of DBW make me laugh
[HR][/HR]​
Who said anyone is afraid of DBW? Install is not much more difficult. The point is DBW is less responsive and who wants an emissions influenced computer to tell you when you can open the throttle? The throttle body is doing what the computer says, not what you say. The lag is pronounced as well. My recommendation to stay away from DBW is 100% towards performance, feel, and closer to being one with the car.
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Re: 1.8T swap (VwGTi31)

Hey VwGti31 sorry to have contributed to an argument on your post, I hate it when this happens when I post a topic. If you have the drive DBW motor go for it its what I am doing (2001 AWW into 91 GTI). Don't worry about throttle response, I have driven DBW cars and with all the power, especially in a lighter car you won't ever notice.
Have fun with the swap and let us know what happens, John
Re: 1.8T swap (Dean F)

quote:[HR][/HR]YOU make me laugh John, have your ever driven a DBW car? It SUCKS full throttle 1/2 way down, 2.2 second lag at full throttle shifts, stomp on both pedals at the same time, thats a good one to try for yourself so I'll leave the answer open.[HR][/HR]​
there is no throttle lag. before I finished the install of my car i was curious about this as well. I had the gas pedal in my hand and was looking down the throttle body at the throttle plate. as I operated the gas pedal, the throttle plate moved just as quickly, I tried to push that pedal as fast as I could and see if the plate would lag behind. It never did. it moved just as quickly as if it had a cable attached.
the thing with the gas and the brake at the same time, thats only on a stock car, and even on a stock car it can be easily disabled. (its got to do with a the brake light switch and the vacuum switch for the cruise) If anyone is going to install a 1.8T in an older car they will likely go around this. if they cant figure out how then they wont be able to install the motor either. the lag at full throttle shifts is again contolled by a switch on the clutch, also used for cruise.
as for the computer closing the throttle on you. I have heard about that, only if you have some bad stuff going on in your engine, ie: bad chip leaning things out, boost controller leaning things out, or some bad sensors. I have spent lots of time with the VAG-COM and never seen the throttle close when i dont want it to.

DBW is the way all car companies are going. we are goin got have to deal with it. better to learn now how things work, and how to work things the way we want to.
if you need any more help with your swap just ask, there are a few of us here that can help you out. it sucks when people discourage others on doing swaps because they think there is a better way.

DAN 1.8T '90 GTI
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Re: 1.8T swap (xray_boy)

quote:[HR][/HR]if you need any more help with your swap just ask, there are a few of us here that can help you out. it sucks when people discourage others on doing swaps because they think there is a better way.

DAN 1.8T '90 GTI[HR][/HR]​
I don't think any one is trying to discourage VwGTi31 from doing the swap. They are just telling him it would be easier with an AEB engine as oppsed to a DBW engine, which it would. Do you have any pics of your install or your car you can post??? I'm interested in seeing how a DBW setup is achieved in an a2..thanks
Re: 1.8T swap (scarywoody)

i am extremely interested in doing this also to my 92 Montana Green GTi 16v. how much on average do you think it will take to do the complete swap???
thanks
kramer
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Re: 1.8T swap (Josh[deady]Able)

holy cow, mine came to $4500CDN. thats just parts I did it myself, new clutch at the same time. and only stock, but there is a huge difference in price. maybe I just got the motor really cheap??
DAN
Re: 1.8T swap (xray_boy)

yeah i was talking to my friend and he said that this guy will do the complete conversion for $7,000 1.8t and $6,000 vr6. that is for everything and professionally installed. now time to start parting out my 16v. how much will my 2.0L 16v sell for?? it has 103k miles on it
thanks
kramer
Re: 1.8T swap (surfcity21)

quote:[HR][/HR] i am extremely interested in doing this also to my 92 Montana Green GTi 16v. how much on average do you think it will take to do the complete swap??? [HR][/HR]​
With a cheap 020 tranny and an Upsolute chip, mine rang in just under $5000.
Re: 1.8T swap (Montanagreenmachine)

is there a parts cd that walks you threw the conversion?? my friend has an e30 m3 that put a obdII m50 motor. which is going from the original s14 (4cyl) to m50 (6cyl 98 m3). he has a cd that was put out by team oreca i think and i was wondering if we have anything like out there for us?? if not anyone want to go into business with me

kramer
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2
Re: 1.8T swap (surfcity21)

I am trying to sell a 2000 1.8t motor with the tranny, turbo, intercooler, all piping, ecu (chipped) and wiring harness. I am alos inlcuding the cablle shifting mechanism and the gas pedal. I want 3500 for it. It goes on ebay sunday, don't delay if you are interested.
[email protected]
Re: 1.8T swap (surfcity21)

quote:[HR][/HR]yeah i was talking to my friend and he said that this guy will do the complete conversion for $7,000 1.8t and $6,000 vr6. that is for everything and professionally installed. now time to start parting out my 16v. how much will my 2.0L 16v sell for?? it has 103k miles on it
thanks
kramer[HR][/HR]​
Where is this guy located? I am thinking about selling my GTI and doing a 1.8T swap into an A2 or A1, I am just starting to look into all of this to see how difficult it will be. I would really like to drop a 1.8T into a 16V scirocco body, has anyone done this yet? Any help suggestions, or tips from anyone experienced in this swap would sure be appreciated. Im reading some older posts that i did a search on I am finding some usefull info. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif Thanks!
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Re: 1.8T swap (turboluvr)

My local salvage yard has three cars with 1.8T's 98 Passat, 99 A4 and 00 Beetle
I was told $2500 for motor with turbo, wiring, waterpump, cluster etc. basically whatever I needed for the swap.
Unfortunately I'm going to school and working part time, so this needs to be low budegt. One meaning that I wil be doing the swap, and two that I will be using my existing tranny, its a 4k.
My questions, Which motor should I go with? Does the A4 have a k04 turbo? and should I find a different tranny to use?
Thanks everyone...
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Re: 1.8T swap (turboluvr)

quote:[HR][/HR]I would really like to drop a 1.8T into a 16V scirocco body, has anyone done this yet? Any help suggestions, or tips from anyone experienced in this swap would sure be appreciated.[HR][/HR]​
Check out: http://www.scirocco20v.com/
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