The fact that the 1.8L Turbo will only work with the Fast Forward kit
doesn't really bother me! :)

Seriously though, you are right, you will have to modify the engine lid for
the 1.8L Turbo, 1.8L G60 (158hp) or the VR6 (174hp) - infact all inline
four engine need a modified engine lid with my kit - it seems that 115hp
would be the maximum that you install using a kit that mounts the engine at
a 50 degree angle.

For those who are worried about the rear deck lid I do offer hinges that
allow the bed to be 3" higher when it is in the folded down position and 0"
high in the seat position.  Hence I have no problems in my 1984 Westie.

Also, if you are looking for a 1.8L Turbo engine, get one from a Passat or
Audi.  The Golf IV and New Beetle engines are 100% drive by wire like the
TDIs and they are a LOT more complicated to get running in a "primitive"
Vanagon.

At 07:07 PM 21/01/2000 -0800, Dave Bayer wrote:
>David Marshall wrote:
>>
>> If you want power, install an Audi A4 or VW Passat 1.8L Turbo engine. 150hp
>> plus a lot of FLAT torque... these engines arn't THAT expensive or that
>> hard to install.
>
>        They are also offered in the new Beetles. These might work fine
>with the fast forward kits, but it doesn't appear that either
>intake manifold will fit under the deck lid with the stock diesel motor
>mounts, mounting bars, and bellhousing. I also talked to a local
>mechanic
>who said the head itself wouldn't clear the lid. It's a really neat
>engine
>though! New models are totally drive by wire.
>
>        Heat from the turbo shouldn't be a problem (there are lots
>of TD out there and while gas engines run with a bit more waste heat,
>I would doubt that it's going to be enough to melt your deck lid and
>since the motor is running). Since it is a turbo, the exhaust system
>is greatly simplied, and since it's a cross flow head, you don't
>have any problems with interference on the left engine wall and the
>intake manifold. Don't know how the coolant system outlets look
>on the head/block though - the ones I looked at were all at dealer
>lots with the plastic covers on the engines... Hrm, the turbo would
>require a modified left/rear motor mount if you were using the
>stock diesel mounts, and you probably need a strengthened clutch
>kit (these things put out as much torque as the TDIs).
>
>        Prices seem to be about the same as TDI engines - I was
>quoted $3500 for a complete engine, engine management cruft, smog
>cruft and exhaust system (to use for measurement possibles only
>really). I know a guy who is on the audilist who got a shipment
>of complete new engines (for audi conversions I would guess) and
>was selling them for $3000 - however I don't know if that would
>then include smog stuff nor do I know if he has any left. This
>is really an ideal engine for a syncro as you don't NEED to
>regear the tranny, but you can gear and go to larger tires for
>fuel economy (you can time the regearing to coincide with the
>120K*n rebuilds that these trannies are rumored to need anyway).
>
>        Had this engine appeared to fit under the deck lid, I
>would have researched the conversion a bit more to verify coolant
>connections and motor mounts will work (the block looks the same
>as the regular 1.8 blocks, however the mounting points in the
>passat are different than the mounting points used in A1 and A2
>cars with the 1.8). However, the head appears not to fit, and
>I want my deck lid to stay stock...
>
>dave
>
>

--   David Marshall -                    - Quesnel, BC, Canada   --
--    78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westie, 85 VW Cabriolet   --
--       87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab      --
-- David's Volkswagen Home Page        http://www.volkswagen.org --
-- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning  http://www.fastforward.ca --
-- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --