The Danish mk1

[mads_christ]

This is my 4 door mk1. She's a Gx model from 83. The Gx was a top of the line model which was only produced in 83. It's a 1.6 carb with an auto gearbox and all the options possible ticked of.

The body is in excellent condition but the engine has seen better days. It runs horrible and produces quit a lot of oil spill. I blame the carb and my complete lack of skills for the running part and age is probably to blame for the oil spill.















Because of the great bodywork on this car I think it's worth upgrading the engine and fix up the interior. The Gx model came with a complete GTI interior and this one is still salvageable. It's just 30 years of filth and dirt.





My big issue with this car is the engine. I can't figure out what to do. There's many possible engine conversions possible but I need do one that is road legal in Denmark. That means I can't upgrade to an engine that originally was offered in a mk1. So no 1.8t or vr6 and so on. That's problem number one.
Problem number two: I want to keep my auto gearbox...
Is, for example, a 1.8 KR engine possible to run with an auto?

[Notso Swift]

That is incredibly good for a car from snow/damp country, Agree just a clean of the interior, you can also lift the seat covers and put fresh foam under, as well as re-tension them

Can't offer any solutions on the motor situation, I suspect you can as it is mainly the head, but wasn't that Mk2 only anyway?

[sports racer]

That is one good looking body.

The MK1 never came out with a KR motor. Best thing to suit your laws would be a 1.8 8v running a quick cam, extractors, decent carbies (or fuel injection) and maybe some head work if you can afford it. That would see you with around 130hp, probably more, which would make a quick little car. All this can be done with the auto gearbox.

Love the fluffy steering wheel.

Cheers

Paul

[mads_christ]

Yes, the KR engine is from the mk2 and that contradicts what I just said... But the as long as it's a 1.8 it won't get noticed by the MOT guys. If I on the other hand changed it to a motor with more cylinders and/or forced induction they would notice it right away. So basically any old VW 1.8 would be possible.

How much does it take to change a car from carbs to injection? Might be a stupid question but I really have no clue.

Does anyone know how much power the auto gearbox can handle? I can't find any info about it. Most people want manual in their mk1's...

[Peter Jones]

Would they notice a naturally aspirated 1.8 20v ?

I've always wanted to see one of those in a MK1. They've got an aluminium block so should be quite light.

A stock 1.8 20v would work well behind the auto box, quite powerful and very torquey especially if you can re use the fuel injection.

For something simpler the ADZ 1.8 8v motors from the MK3 Golf CL and the Seat Cordoba is pretty much a bolt in replacement for your 1.6. Just unbolt everything off your motor and swap it onto the ADZ block.

That way you'd keep your existing carburetor which is designed to work with the auto.

[mads_christ]

I don't know anything about the 1.8 20v. I have to check it out.

The convenience of the ADZ sounds great! It's my first engine conversion and massive power is not necessarily important to me. But... The existing pierburg carb is way too complicated to my liking (read: skills) so I would prefer to change to a simpler weber of sorts. How does the carb affect the automatic transmission?

[sports racer]

My wife has a 97 Passat with a 1.8 20v non turbo and it's slightly quicker than my MK2 with a 2.0 8v. The Passat is a bit heavier than my MK2 so that motor in a lightweight MK1 would be a nice package. Not too fast to attract Police attention but quick enough to surprise a few modern cars.

[mads_christ]

How much does it take to mount a 20v (agn engine) in a mk1. I can't figure out which parts I need to change in order to go from carbs to injection. If I go for the agn engine, do I then need fuel lines, wiring, different fuel pumps or what?

Yes, I have never done this before... You never guessed that, huh???

[Stanton]

You need to join Club GTI or edition 38 in the UK they will have all the info you need.We are just the poor relations over here in Australia.

[sports racer]

They are good sites but have you seen how slow they are to respond to some queries? We're a pretty friendly bunch here and always willing to help.

To fit the 20v you're going to need a lot of stuff. Custom (aftermarket) engine mounts, upgraded fuel pump, new engine management system, bigger exhaust system etc. Pretty much everything that supports the engine has to be bigger and better than what you've got with your 1.6.

I don't know what your local wreckers has but it would be better to get a complete car with 20v so you can swap almost everything you need. I don't think the 20v will mate up to your auto box, it needs a later box from a MK4 Golf.

If this is your first engine swap don't try something as hard as a 20v, go 1.8 8v. Much easier and everything bolts up to your existing bits, even the gearbox.