vw16V Mods That Work

Here are the best modifications for your money, for your 16V car.

  1. Cut-out airbox.  Greatly improves throttle response, and makes a nice
growl.  Might even give a couple of hp.  On 87-89 cars, cut out the front of
the airbox, or remove the side cover.  On 90-91 cars, simply pop out the
"horn" looking restrictor.


  2. 87-89 cars: Autotech power module.  Will make the car pull from
5500-7000rpms, a lot better.  A MUST for 2.0 conversions.


  3. 90-92 cars: Performance chip (I recommend Garrett).  Will make everything
better:  low end, mid range, top end.  EXCELLENT upgrade.


  4. Cat-back (straight-through) exhaust:  Can sound good (I use a Borla 19
inch muffler), and gives better top end power.  Most noticeable from 5000-7000
rpms.  Gives 4-5 hp over stock.  Dropped 3 tenths off my 1/4 mile time.


  5. Solid rubber motor mounts.  If you have those piece of crap hydraulic
mounts on your car, get rid of them.  Makes driving your car so much better.
Smoother, cleaner shifts.


  6. Euro intake cam.  Will make the car pull a bit better from 5000-7000 rpms.
Gives about 5 hp.  Not a monstrous difference, but well worth the money, if
you can buy it for $200 or less.  It's smog legal, idles smooth, doesn't hurt
gas mileage, and doesn't hurt your low end power.


  7. Rabbit GTI 4K  tranny.  People complain about the 1.8 16V not having
enough torque (most of the time, their cars are way out of tune).  This tranny
will eliminate that problem.  It is the BEST upgrade, next to a 2.0 Liter
shortblock.  Night and day difference in acceleration.  


  8. 2.0 Liter shortblock (only if you own a 1.8, of course...).  Will turn
your Civic-killer, into a Mustang fighter.  LOTS more torque.  The ultimate
upgrade.  Surprise the shit out of lots of people, especially  old M3's,
mustangs, talons, GS-R's, etc.


  9. For 90-92 cars:  The 1.8 16V head.  Claimed to give 10 hp at top end, will
a tiny loss of torque.  Will make your 2.0 rev past 6000, much, much better.
We drag raced two nearly identical GTI's, one having the 1.8 head, and the
other having the 2.0 head, and every time,  the cars would be even through 1st
and 2nd gears, but the car with the 1.8 head would always pull away in 3rd
gear.


  10. Even though I list this last, this is the MOST important upgrade:  If you
haven't ever replaced the injector 0-rings on you 16V, you MUST do it.  You
are losing power, and gas mileage. Make sure to replace them with VITON
0-rings, not the standard rubber ones.  (the 90-92 cars came from the factory
with Viton 0-rings, they are good for at least 80,000-100,000 miles).
You would not believe the difference these one dollar little things make in
your engine's performance.  Remember:  vacuum leaks are BAD, they throw off
your fuel mixture.

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