Mk2 Jetta GLI 2.0 16v worthwhile mods?

I would do some gixxer carbs. That'd be cool.

I had a 91 GLI and I put a stainless steel header and cat back on it. It 'felt' a little ...more. I don't know if it was the 19 year old me thinking it was faster or if it was more raspy or what.

doc_speeder wrote: In reply to Ditchdigger: I thought that was true of the early 1.8 16v's with CIS-E, but not the 2.0 16V with CIS-Motronic?

That is true. If you're going stand alone, just have the ecu control it. If you're going carbs, you can use the knock box from pretty much any knock box set up as a stand alone ignition control. Also, the 8v GTI has a slightly more aggressive advance curve than the 16v box.

So since it already has a chip and I'd like to spend less than $1k, looking at shocks and struts, a rear bar, exhaust, shifter rebuild, some 225-series rubber and some cheap-ish, light wheels. Sound about right? Luckily a lot of this stuff can be picked up cheap or used from the Vortex, so this should be a fun and easy little project. Maybe I'll look into cams and head work if I end up really loving it.

16vCorey wrote:

doc_speeder wrote: In reply to Ditchdigger: I thought that was true of the early 1.8 16v's with CIS-E, but not the 2.0 16V with CIS-Motronic?

That is true. If you're going stand alone, just have the ecu control it. If you're going carbs, you can use the knock box from pretty much any knock box set up as a stand alone ignition control. Also, the 8v GTI has a slightly more aggressive advance curve than the 16v box.

Yup. I have used 8v, 16v and ABA boxes before. I make harnesses pretty much just like these

http://www.driversfound.com/scirocco/techtips/engine/knocksensor/

Only I had to figure it out from the Bentley diagrams.

Not sure you'll be able to fit 225's. The largest I was able to fit was 205's...

Carbs an the timing locked at 30 works pretty well. Assuming the carbs are tuned and it can still crank over, diesel starter helps a bit.

The abf powered mk2 I had a hand in put down 156whp with just a header, intake and MS.

SlickDizzy wrote: So since it already has a chip and I'd like to spend less than $1k, looking at shocks and struts, a rear bar, exhaust, shifter rebuild, some 225-series rubber and some cheap-ish, light wheels. Sound about right? Luckily a lot of this stuff can be picked up cheap or used from the Vortex, so this should be a fun and easy little project. Maybe I'll look into cams and head work if I end up really loving it.

Sounds like the right path and should be easy to resell if the desire arises. My MK2's engine was pretty fresh so I spent my money and time on the suspension and other bits that didn't work quite right and it turned into a very satisfying car, even at 110 hp.