[Vwdiesel] MK1 - N/A - can it handle a turbo?

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  The heads are supposed to be different but no rebuilders that 
I know of (or aftermarket builders) diferentiate between the turbo 
and NA engines.  The valves are different but some books say it's 
the intake, some say it's the exhaust!  I believe it's the exhaust, 
but it's not critical.
  The bottom end has a different crank but they're interchangeable 
and all diesel cranks are forged to start with.  I believe it has to 
do with the journal hardening, which is gone anyway if the journals 
are ground for a rebuild.
  The real difference is the oil squirters on the bottom of the pistons.
I've made makeshift squirters that do the job and require the big 
oil pump.  You can do just fine without them but keep the maximum 
exhaust temp lower is all.
  So, yes, they'll handle it, even the 1.5.  Just don't push it quite as 
hard.  You about have to use old OEM stuff.  There weren't a lot of 
aftermarket turbos for them and they're long out of production now 
so they're a tad scarce to chase down.  Usually they were non 
wastegated which made for a little higher max boost but more 
turbo lag.
    Loren

In a message dated 12/11/2009 11:49:29 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
joe at haasenpfeffer.com writes:

> The previous discussion on exhausts and such has me wondering if my N/A 
> 1.6L
> '82 Rabbit diesel could handle a turbo?  Or do you have to beef up the 
> head?
> Are any of the later VW turbos bolt-on or are we talking after-market 
> stuff?
> This is just daydreaming at this point...
>