I would not call the 1.8T a bullet-proof motor. Nor would quite a few folks on VW Vortex or the shop chief at one of the largest dealers in Chicago. One of my wife's co-workers just had one go at 60k.

We specifically avoided it.

Micah

 

Micah, just got your message on my cell. I'm at work still. We'll shoot for another date/time. No biggie.

 

Audi TT engine is a VW Golf engine which is flipped over, hence the big front end to fit it in. TT's are four wheel drive.

 

First of all there is no VW Golf specific engine, 1.8T comes in all VW models(except for cabrio which is no longer produced and some other things).
Second of all 225hp engine in TT is NOT THE SAME as 180hp rated engine. 225 has stronger internals, dual ICs, KO4 turbo and bunch of other stuff that makes it tougher.
I owned a 1.8T powered car for 3 years and i've had 300whp easily with GT28RS turbo and car was reliable for years as long as i knew what i was doing. Vette owners never knew what happened to them
They go at 60K because just as 944 engines these things require ATTENTION, belts have to be changed every 40-50K as done by all knowledgable 1.8T owners at vwvortex.com. Oil is usually synthetic only and 91-93 gas ONLY.
Many people put 87 in their 1.8T for years and get a Jiffy Lube oil change and then wonder where oil sludge caused engine failure came from
1.8T is nearing it's end in new VW cars, 2.0T 16V is taking over and man, that thing is smooth. I have a friend with a modded 1.8T in a VW Rabbit and that thing is plain scary
Great motor if you don't take it over 400WHP and don't screw up on maintanance. Never had a problem with mine.

 

225HP TT Quattros are AWD, using the Haldex system like the R32 Golf, but the TT is (or was) also available with FWD and a 150-180HP 1.8T motor. All transverse like the Golf. I assume the 3.2l V6 is transverse as well.

-Joel.

 

I drive a VW Passat 1.8 T these days and the engine (only 150 HP in this one)is very nice for the size of the car. Consider the low weight of a 924 turbo + more power

My wife has an Audi TT Roadster 180 HP- I hope she doesn't read this cause she wont give me the keys again ;-) - I saw that the engine is transverse, but I am considering using the 225 HP engine as a starting point, which I think was installed longitudinally on the Audi TTs or S3s (great car that one).
I agree with Russian Rocket, that it all depends on what you expect to get out of your engine and how you treat it (oil - fuel maintenance) We have 100 octane pump gas here in Athens Greece. You should see the difference this makes to my 951S.
On those stating that it would cost a fortune, I don't plan to do this as an investment. Just a nice Q-car that would embarrass some BMWs. It would be cheaper that a V8 conversion anyway (I don't have access to these here) I believe that would cost around 6k for the engine to be installed and completely working (including the parts). Audis last 60k miles ? Anyone done 6k miles on a 924 turbo reliably recently ???


Many guys here have done some similar conversions to BMWs. M3 + turbo (from E36) inside an E30 1990 BMW 318i. Some others prefer the M5s. These cars are road rockets. One guy has installed a 540 V8 and put a turbo (actually 2) on a 318ti compact.

 

The 1.8t is mounted transversely in the Audi TT but with the correct sump and bell housing there is no good reason why it cannot be mounted longitudinally. There is after all plenty of space under the hood of a 924. As the cost of a good used 1.8t unit's has dropped the market for retro fitting these engines into kit cars and other vehicles has blossomed (in the UK at least).

Currently this engine has more tuning options open to it than the 951 engine also.

It might be worth posting question on the subject of getting hold of or making your own bell housing and sump, on this forum. http://www.ppcmag.co.uk/forum/. As there seem to be a couple of people on this site who are running build diarys on engine swaps (not TT into 924 but the principles are the same!).

Good luck, this would make an interesting project.

 

Thanx Steve.
The tuning potential of this unit is what put me into these thoughts.

 

An LT1 or LS1 in there would be something However, when I had the opporunity, I rebuilt the motor.

 

Well, I said almost bullet-proof, no engine can withstand anything.

I know quite a few folks that say the same thing about 924/944/968's - who work at large Porsche dealers and also quite a few people on this site called Rennlist. What's your point?