VW R32 Engine

[racerjosh]

Not sure if this has been asked and answered before.. but couldn't find any info on it so please excuse me if im just repeating previous posts

right.. im looking at buying a mk4 ibiza, the original plan was the 1.8t cupra. However, would it be possible to fit a VW R32 engine into the engine bay?
Now i know anything is possible if you have the money but is it an 'easy fit' so to speak? or is it going to be a pig of a job?
i know custom mounts will have to be made, but im generally looking at: will it fit in the engine bay, how far off are the original mounting points, any major work needed - like extending the arches or front end of the car etc etc

any light on this subject will be vastly appreciated


p.s. i know some of you will probably ask, why not just get an R32. My answer is, i like to be different i want a 'custom' car to 'my' spec .. not a factory spec to suit all, plus i can pick up a mk4 ibiza for around £2-3k (would get the 1.2 to do the conversion with.. as its the same chassis as the 1.8 but cheaper to buy - £3-4k cheaper on average) and the vw is around £12k. plus i have BIG plans on the body side of it

 

[kidinspace]

A member on here started building his own Mk1 Golf Caddy (Golf Pickup) with an R32 engine in it. He knows what he's doing and has made many parts by himself, he started last July and is still building it.
See here:- http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=226894
Eveything you will have to do will have to be bespoke, the body work, all the electrics and wiring, even the exhaust system would have to be custom made. I would hazzard a guess at maybe needing about £6000 or more just for the work before you even buy the car... Have you got that much money and time? And most importantly have you got the patience?

.G.

 

[knackerdecobre]

AFAIK the mounts should be in the same place, as they would be in the Mk4 Golf.

If you get the loom and everything I don't think it would be 'that' hard to be honest, main thing is the gearbox

 

[Deleted member 13581]

You keeping it FWD or going for 4-wheels drive? Lot of power to go through the front. Could need an LSD for that. £££!

Going to need larger driveshafts, hubs, brakes, gearbox, clutch to get this off the ground.

Could run up to ££££'s for something that you can go out and get already.

If it was me, i would be saving up and buying an R32 when you know its all going to work no problem.

Good luck.

 

[kidinspace]

Also you've got to get it passed by VOSA/DVLA before you can tax it and insurance for use on the public roads. Different story if you doing it as racer or somehtinig like that.

.G.

 

[racerjosh]

cheers for the info
would be kept FWD and yes a LSD would be used

 

[luke c]

is the r32 not a NA 3.2 litre engine with not that much bhp for what it is surely it would be better to go for a turbo unit and up the power from there

 

[vroomtshh]

is the r32 not a NA 3.2 litre engine with not that much bhp for what it is surely it would be better to go for a turbo unit and up the power from there

Or turbo the r32 engine, or be a real man and fit the r36 engine. same as the r32 as far as fitting goes but extra cc

 

[Slimy]

I was going to say the same as luke, there are turbo's on here that have got more power than the bog standard R32. So having it FWD only (even without the diff) wouldn't be any worse to drive than other cars here.

It would definitely be worth considering as a 'project'. Or you could try a turbo'ed VR5?

 

[Ad Lav]

Just get a 2.9 VR6 from a Golf or Corrado...

 

[Gooner_Mike]

Either buy a R32 or get a Mk4 20vt and go big turbo....

 

[J@mes W]

Surely the R32 lump is going to make it nose heavy, it certainly wont do the handling any good, they're thirsty engines too.

A lighter, more powerful turbo lump is surely the thinking mans choose, saying this they sound amazing with a sports exhaust on.

What ever you decide to do good luck matey.

 

[jake]

do what jbs are doing and fit one in the back

 

[Slimy]

Surely the R32 lump is going to make it nose heavy, it certainly wont do the handling any good, they're thirsty engines too.

The VR engines are only the same as an average diesel engine, so that's not too bad. And they're only thirsty if you enjoy them, but then again so is a turbo!

 

[WeeJase]

I'd hazard a guess(and that's all it is) that an R32 engine is not much heavier,if at all than a tdi or 20vt and all its ancillaries.

 

[andycupra]

i would say stick with the 1.8T

the R32 engine is heavy and not so tunable*. The 1.8T transfer easier also



*before someone comes along and says it, i did NOT say not tunable. But for sensible money the 1.8T is more receptive.

 

[racerjosh]

is the r32 not a NA 3.2 litre engine with not that much bhp for what it is surely it would be better to go for a turbo unit and up the power from there

yehh its a NA engine but my god it sounds soooooooo sexy - the only exhaust note i can think of that comes close to beating it would be the lexus lfa at 9000rpm.. but i dont have 300k

ive had a look into the 1.8 tuning side .. and it doesnt seem excessively expensive might have to have a re-think

 

[knackerdecobre]

I would just do it for the noise alone!

 

[luke c]

yehh its a NA engine but my god it sounds soooooooo sexy - the only exhaust note i can think of that comes close to beating it would be the lexus lfa at 9000rpm.. but i dont have 300k

ive had a look into the 1.8 tuning side .. and it doesnt seem excessively expensive might have to have a re-think

looking at the r32s u would need to turbo it to make it worth while doing over the 1.8t . there was a lad at the north east rr day that ran 500 bhp in his r32 but the turbo alone cost 14k

 

[andycupra]

you need to decide on the end figure you want.. (ie power).
With modding you should look at where you want to be at the end of it all rather than mod, then mod again and then again..

If you are happy with up to 300 bhp then the 1.8T
400 bhp and you need to look at something else, which wont be cheap,