Project MK2 VR6 Jetta

[Paul]

Shortly after graduating in May, I decided I needed a car that is better suited for day to day driving. Working full time now, I commute a total of 50 miles a day to Sterling and back to Manassas. The Rabbit isn't so great in stop and go traffic with a six puck clutch, it's doable but gets cumbersome over time. The Jeep drinks an absurd amount of gas, were talkin like 12-13 mpg, which gets expensive when you drive at least 50 miles a day. I've been driving the truck which is great, but I consider it more of a collectorÔÇÖs item that I don't want to continue to subject to the rigors of NoVa drivers and traffic. So here is my new project, a 1991 Volkswagen Jetta GL.



Empty engine bay:



Recaro interior:



I finally convinced Wieder to sell me this car, after it sat in his driveway untouched for six months. He bought it in hopes of swapping the engine from his other car into it, but I convinced him that he doesn't have the motivation to do such a thing. This car was the perfect starting point for me as I had almost everything needed for the swap from my old GTi (R.I.P.). More great things about this car: paint is less than a year old with shaved marker lights and antenna, full recaro interior that came in Jetta GLiÔÇÖs of this generation, Corrado G60 brakes installed which is the best factory upgrade you can use on this car, and hydraulic pedal cluster and cable shifter box already installed (one less thing I have to do).

Car after we got it home:



Before I began the swap, I decided to install new timing chains and tensioners as my engine had over 120,000 miles on it. It is much easier to do with the engine out of the car as half of the work is done already. These are interference engines if the chain does break, my friend found out the hard way.



I am not the best at taking pictures while working on cars, I get focused and end up getting a lot of shit done and forget to document it. What you donÔÇÖt see in the pictures is changing the subframes and notching the frame rail to accommodate the larger engine. I installed a new steering rack and tie rod ends while everything was out because the old stuff was wasted. After finishing the chains and getting the engine put back together, I joined the engine back with the trans. I painted almost everything black because polishing takes too much time and I have a blacked out theme in mind for this car. My friend Rich helped me shoe horn the engine in and he took some pictures while we were working.



And after it is all settled in:


I figured I needed to at least one-up myself from my last VR6 swap so here are a few things I decided to do: shortened the accessory bracket, I no longer needed provisions for the power steering pump or A/C compressor. I took the wiring harness completely apart and deleted things that didnÔÇÖt need to be there, items such as the alarm wiring and sensors I didnÔÇÖt need for accessories that are not on the older car. I rewired the car from the dash forward because I wasnÔÇÖt satisfied with the wiring in the car. IÔÇÖve become OCD with wiring in my experience with cars. I even added the OBD 2 diagnostic port inside the car, hello VAG-COM!!! I rewrapped the harness with black fabric tape which is what the factory uses on newer cars and I happen to like the way it looks. I relocated the fan control module to the fender well and deleted the coolant expansion tank and throttle body heater for a cleaner look. To the common person these mods are hardly noticeable, but if you see a stock bay side by side with mine the difference is night and day.
Interior shot while I had everything apart for wiring:



Engine bay shot as of about two weeks ago:




I worked on it over the weekend and a little today. It is almost finished, just have a few little things to finish up on before I fire it up. IÔÇÖll try to get some updated pictures soon.

[ScottyB]

you're a machine.

looks good, i like the little touches - that VAG-COM port will be really handy and the cleaned up engine bay is beautiful.

[REED]

did you say you removed the power steering and A/C.....on your DD?

[V1GiLaNtE]

You never seem to stop do you Paul?? A VR jetta is on my list of things to do one day.. Especially with a full Recaro Interior.. YUM. Keep up the good work sir!

[Paul]

This is actually a base model car....very base, doesn't even have a sunroof. Which is kinda cool because most vw's have sunroofs. Also is a manual steering car, so it has the appropriate steering rack, shouldn't be too bad. A/C would have been nice, but would have been a lot of trouble and money to add it. With a car this age you would have to replace nearly all of the components. The only vehicle I have that has a/c is the jeep and I hardly ever use it. Soon to have no cars with it because I intend on selling the jeep.

[REED]

This is actually a base model car....very base, doesn't even have a sunroof. Which is kinda cool because most vw's have sunroofs. Also is a manual steering car, so it has the appropriate steering rack, shouldn't be too bad. A/C would have been nice, but would have been a lot of trouble and money to add it. With a car this age you would have to replace nearly all of the components. The only vehicle I have that has a/c is the jeep and I hardly ever use it. Soon to have no cars with it because I intend on selling the jeep.

ahhh i gotcha, the VR6 was obviously from a newer car, I didn't think about the jetta not having those things originally

my first car was an '88 jetta with a little crank sunroof - that thing was awesom


anyway - carry on

[Paul]

Yeah, VW loved those crank sunroofs. My Rabbit has a crank sunroof, my friends in high school called it a rodeo car cause it looked like I was twirling a lasso when I opened the sunroof. These cars only came with 4 cylinder engines that were either 8 valve or 16 valve, also had a few different diesel engines available. The engine I have it out of a 97 GTi VR6, which is a MK3. So many parts are interchangable between the MK2 and MK3 which is really cool and makes swaps like these easier. This swap is much more straight forward than my 1.8T swap was.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Ironically enough I just emailed a guy regarding a 86' jetta for sale here in da Hburg...

[BLAIR]

for those of us who dont know about pauls mk2 VR swapped GTI. super clean car.


Where this VR swap came from. The drivetrain was about the only good thing left on or in the car.

and a BIG F U to the lexus SUV driver who punted the gti off 66 :finger: :finger: :finger: :finger: :finger:

[Paul]

That was a terrible day. That car was my pride and joy, miss that car. But luckily Ryan and I walked away with only minor injuries. This is the third car this engine has been in. Cabel what's the info on that Jetta? 1990-92 are the more desirable years for the MK2; big bumpers, one piece front windows, modular wiring. A VR swap in one of these is plug and play with the wiring. You can swap a VR into any MK2, it would just be more work as you would have to change the entire harness of the car to do it correctly.

[V1GiLaNtE]

^^ Not sure yet Paul. I'm waiting on the guy to email me back. The basic low down is he's been commuting with it for the past year. Apparently does not look super great but runs fairly well. Wants $600 for it... I was thinking about buying it and using it as a beater...(keep miles off the waggie) and then when funds permit maybe coils, single crosshair lights, badgeless, and a VR swap... You and Blair will be my number one guys to talk to if I end up getting this thing.. Maybe I'll wait to find a good deal on the the 1990-1992's... Just always enjoyed the way the old Jetta's look and a VR growl always got me hott and bothered since hearing one in a R32.

[Steve85]

Damn, that MK2 was niiiice. I guess it's old news by now I guess, but sorry to see that happended to you guys and the car.

I like the white MK1(?) next to it too.

[Paul]

Honestly Cabel, if you have the funds I would do wheels and suspension to the wagon before you get another car. Those two mods alone will make that car badass. The white Rabbit in the background Is my friend Nates, 16 valve turbo and ran an 11.5. Pretty sleeper huh?

[Steve85]

Very sleeper...no massive intercooler pipes or holes in the front showing it off. Looks like a nice clean no frills classic dropped VW. You guys do great work with these VWs. :thumbup:

[Paul]

IT RUNS!!! Got her started up Friday night after buttoning up a few last things. Still isn't ready for the road but should be soon. Have to get the front end put back together and a few other things like getting the exhaust hooked up, although the open header sounds pretty good. Trying to decide on wheels have a few in mind, but we'll have to see. Here is one set I'm considering, the Keskin KT1's:


Only thing is they are 16x9's which is badass, but afraid it would take some of the functionality of the car away. Can't have 3-4 people in the car with these, it'll rub. Air suspension anyone???

[BLAIR]

Very sleeper...no massive intercooler pipes or holes in the front showing it off. Looks like a nice clean no frills classic dropped VW. You guys do great work with these VWs. :thumbup:

nates rabbit is sick.. and pretty damn fast for a no thrills homemade junkyard parts built car.

[V1GiLaNtE]

any update on this sucker??

[BLAIR]

its been up and running for a couple months. He has been DDing it :thumbup:

[V1GiLaNtE]

I demand PICS!!!