to get a mk3 with a 1.8t, or to swap a 2.0 out for one. like will the tranny from the 2.0 be alright with the 1.8t. and help or input would be great. thanks

 

You can swap a 1.8t into a VR6 car easier since the wiring harness from the MK3 can be made to work with the 1.8t. As for the 020 tranny, if you are going to leave the 1.8t stock, it might hold together for a while.

If you plan to buy a car that has already been swapped or pay someone to do the swap, be prepared to spend more than it is worth.

 

There is a guy on here using a 1.8t/020 tranny combo. The 020's were designed back in the early 80's and weren't intended for much more than what the 9A 16v put out. Unfortunately, It's been the same design (but different ratios) for 20 years. However, I've had success with ~250whp on a Kraftwerks 020 that lasted 4+ months. Long time ago, though.

 

alright because i was just wondering since so many guys who are all about those two motors over the 2.0 or "two point slow" as they would call it. but i was looking at it and if the 2.0 is turbo'd it looked like it produce 200 whp or hp. which should walk a stock 1.8t right? Because i thought i saw that the 1.8t produced like 150 whp or hp, but im not to sure. The whole reason why i ask is because i got a mk3 jetta 2.0 lined up for me, but i had one b4 and wasn't crazy disappointed, cuz then again it was stock. i just was wondering if the 2.0 is basically going no-where compared to the 1.8t and the VR6?

 

Well, the 2.0, aside from it's bad rep, is actually a strong engine when boosted. You'll get an ABA bottom end and a crossflow head. Much better than the G60 engine and much lighter than the VR6. You should have no problem pulling away from a stock 1.8t or VR6, but I wouldn't expect more than that.

 

i've laid down 305whp on a 020. the only mods to the tranny were a bolt kit and quaife lsd. in stock form the stampings for the spider gear is an accident waiting to happen.

caan, what kind of work was done to your krafwerks tranny? only four months? i've heard different stories about the work that they do. luckily, i got a tranny from vl enterprises before they went to crap.

 

Well, it was originally a DFQ/CHE tranny. I had him swap 2nd from the 1.94 to 2.12, then keep 3rd and 4th and swap 5th from a .80 to .75. I kept the 3.67 FD and had all the gears cryo'd, but the problem was in the brass synchros that were used. It wasn't Kraftwerks fault, though. Switching to steel would have damaged to the "more expensive" components. The problem was my shifting...

 

i'm assuming too many shifts beyond 5k at optimal torque band lead to it's demise? what actually happened during failure?

i was thinking about changing the second as well, to open up that sweet spot. seeing how second is the money maker with these trannys. then again, i i like the overall tight pattern of the 9a with stock gearing.

yeah, synchros. suffer the life of overall componets vs. changing them more often. i stuck with brass. it looks like someone put gold dust in my tranny fluid when i change it.

it's far from robust, but i've had worse days with the borg-warner t5.

 

Ive heard no such thing as the wiring harness being like that from a VR and not a 2.0.

the mk3 harnesses have nothing to do with any of the 1.8t sensors. seriously


And ive had my 020 in my 1.8t for 4+ years still doing good (knock on wood)
clutch drops, drag strips, burnouts you name it lol.

Oh and comparing a 200 hp turbo 2.0 is cheating lol thats alot of work into a turbo 2.0 t oget 200 whp, you can get that froma 1.8t with like chip/intake/exhuast.

but 2.0's are strong.

 

It was me all along. When I destroyed that tranny, I learned that I wasn't cut out for drag racing. It's been about 8 years since then, but I remember the grind between 1st-2nd getting to the point where engaging the clutch had no effect. Eventually, the gear was completely shot and a horrible whizzing noise (and vibration) came during deceleration. Similar to a burnt out pilot bushing on the older RWDs domestics.

Honestly, I've never had much success with VW tranny's. I also ran a Kraftwerks o2a w/peloquin on my old 12vt setup. That was a disaster. Since then, I've been with an o2m 6spd (from the 04 GLI) and it's been the strongest yet. Though, my record has proven otherwise.. I just suck at shifting.