(1.8t PHOOIE!!) Turbo 4000Q conversion idea

[R. Mair]

I've said this before and I'll say it again, the 1.8t is not the way to go
unless you keep the engine relatively stock. The 150-180hp versions were
designed and constructed as ECONOMY motors, compared to the V6 mills. They
will get fairly decent fuel mileage yet yield some semblence of 'scoot'
under WOT. However, the guts of the motor are fragile in comparison to any
other 'current' motor Audi ever built. The valve stems are about the
diameter a Q-Tip. The rods are weaker than those in the weakest normally
aspirated 4 or 5 cyl. Yes... you can chip them, make them breath better and
do all sorts of fun stuff, and then you end up with a grenade. Audi spent
tons of $$$ to learn this, as they tried it in order to make the TT faster.
After pretzeling a few rods, they beefed up the reciprocating parts and
turned out a 225hp version. So... if you're dead set on doing a 1.8t
conversion, shoot for a TT motor ($$$$$). If all you want is a reliable
stock mill, then a 150-180hp will do. Either way, don't count on hopping any
of them up more than 35-40% over stock hp figures, if you want something you
can count on for everyday driving. Yeah, there are a few 300hp 1.8's running
around. They are either TT mills or older ones that were upgraded with
better guts. If not, stand back when the take off.

If you're trying to be different, go for the 1.8t. Otherwise, 250hp out of a
cheap and readily available 10vt is attainable, reliable and relatively
inexpensive. For perhaps $3500, you can drop a 20vt in and START off with
nearly 250hp. $1000 more and your nipping at 300hp. And as I've said again,
Bruno showed up at one of our hillclimbs in a factory built URQ with the
20vt, with just over 600hp.... made a dozen passes up the mountain, drove
the thing on the streets clear across town 4 times, to the hotel and
back.... Now that's reliable!!


Rolf Mair