Beaten down by a Nova.

[Golf Houso]

ditto, or the belt could just be too tight (mine was too tight)

X3 mine pretty much seized a few weeks back on the 2.slow, and sounding just like you described.

[Spyda]

I'm thinking the noise could be the cam belt tensioner. If the belt is too tight it will make a whining sound like a supercharger or a race car engine. Have you recently had the cam belt replaced? If you have replaced the belt did you put a new tensioner in?

I didn't touch the cam belt at all.

Like i said it started after i had taken all of the other belts, power steering pump and water pump off and put them back on to replace the thermostat in the waterpump.

[GOLFBALLS]

WHOA! Man i've been reading this whole awesome thread for the last 2 days.
Spyda are you sure its not an electrical prob?
I'm no mechanic, but i've got an Oz 8v that is also slow.
Does all the spluttering and stuff get worse with the more lights/heater/indicators you use? Mine runs just like you describe: Pulls ok but from 1/4 throttle to full throttle there is bugger all difference. In my old mk2 GTI (which was the UK spec with the big valve head EV engine and kjet) it had the twin throat throttle body which just kept accellerating. I still have that motor for sale with the downpipe by the way It has 1.9 Audi bottom end and lumpy ass cam.
But this aussie POS i'm tolerating now revs nice up to 3000rpm, then sometimes sputters, then clears and revs ok till about 4800rpm and thats it. Sounds like a rocking chair in a tumble dryer from then on and wont go anymore.
Turn on the headlights and do the same and it'll make it to 4500rpm. Add the foglights and heater to the mix and it'll only get to 3900rpm before it turns to poo. And if you indicate at ~3000rpm under accelleration, same thing. except it drains power in time with the indicator blinking!!!
I also have a funny whirring from my alternator...
Sound like any of your probs?
I know how annoying it is. I keep taking on cars that i could embarrass in my old UK EV engined GTI, but this aussie thing is as surefooted as a newborn giraffe!!
Sorry for babble! Just tryin to eliminate some possibilities for ya

[Jarred]

a new battery with plenty of juice, and a refreshed alternator might help your car golfballs.

My mk 1 died one night after I put the rear demister on. Got a new battery and hey presto, ran better after the battery was changed. Also swapped an alternator over at one stage, I can't remeber if it was before or after the battery swap though

[GOLFBALLS]

Roger that.
Spyda, I reckon even if you get that Aussie 8v running better, the process may still send you grey and bald and slightly mentally frayed!! In theory its probably fairly easy to get running smoothly and with a little more power, but ya never know if you have a can of worms until you open it!! It will never be fast with that motor in my humble opinion. Having said that, if i were you i'd be happy if my car just ran properly let alone had more power. Sure its not as powerful as the UK kjet but its still a fun little car, but only when you have the satisfaction of knowing its runnin as good as it can be. Other than that you're always left wanting.
...So, $800 and my EV uk motor is yours haha! Na serious, it needs some work, but was waaay more gutsy than my current GTI

[Spyda]

Roger that.
Spyda, I reckon even if you get that Aussie 8v running better, the process may still send you grey and bald and slightly mentally frayed!! In theory its probably fairly easy to get running smoothly and with a little more power, but ya never know if you have a can of worms until you open it!! It will never be fast with that motor in my humble opinion. Having said that, if i were you i'd be happy if my car just ran properly let alone had more power. Sure its not as powerful as the UK kjet but its still a fun little car, but only when you have the satisfaction of knowing its runnin as good as it can be. Other than that you're always left wanting.
...So, $800 and my EV uk motor is yours haha! Na serious, it needs some work, but was waaay more gutsy than my current GTI

HAHA your are a decent sales man. If only i had the money.

Your problems sound different. Ill try get a video of how the car runs just so everyone has an idea of how bad it is. I also now have a sizable hole in the exhaust, sounds awfull.

I just want to get it all working properly, ive got the down pipe ready to go on but im not guna put it on untill the car is working properly.

I might just keep driving it till it dies then take the engine out AND THROW IT OFF A TALL BUILDING!!!!

[Jarred]

I might just keep driving it till it dies then take the engine out AND THROW IT OFF A TALL BUILDING!!!!

hahahaha

I'm pretty sure we've all been there at some stage!

Welcome to the world of modified cars really!