Welcome to my blog! My name is Ken. I own a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Gti (mk1). I’m a Mechanical Engineering student at Drexel University and hope to go into the Automotive Engineering field when I graduate.
This blog is dedicated to my project car (the Rabbit). My main focus is on swapping out the stock 1.8L JH motor and swapping in a 20v 1.8t AEB motor out of a 1999 Passat into the Rabbit. This swap has been done many times before, but not too many of been well documented. Also, each of these swaps is very unique and fully customizable depending on who is completing it.
I bought the Rabbit in July of 2009 for $700. It was listed for $1600 on Craigslist, but I managed (very easily) to talk the owner down. It sat for 10 years before I picked it up and the last inspection sticker was from 1998. The mileage is currently around 130,000.
You may be wondering why the title of this blog is “Orwell Gets Boosted.” Orwell is what I’ve named the Rabbit (as many of you smarties out there have probably already figured out). Why Orwell? Well a close friend of mine once pointed out that it was a 1984 Rabbit. George Orwell wrote the book 1984, so she said, “why don’t you name it Orwell!?” The name stuck since then.
The stock 1.8L JH motor has been very fun (don’t get me wrong), but the car has had some electrical issues (especially when it rains!), and because i was curious, I ran it at the drag strip. It ran a 16.6 second quarter mile @ 81 mph (ouch!). I think a little something faster is in order. After doing some research on engines and engine swaps, I’ve decided that the 1.8t was the way to go, which brings me here!
I hope that this information is useful to those that would like to complete the same swap. I love comments so feel free to leave me one (or as many as you like :-p).
-Ken
Orwell Gets Boosted 
Is that the stock 1.8t belt tensoner or something special? Do u have any more pics of the timing beltset up with no cover the whole thing?
This is the best post for anyone thinking about doing this swap best pics ever and very helpful
Thanks a bunch man
hey Travis, thanks for the comment! I’m glad you think it’s helpful, i was hoping it’d be useful to someone.
I unfortunately only have like one more picture of the setup, and it is with the lower timing cover on:
and that is NOT the stock 1.8t timing belt tensioner. The stock 1.8t timing belt tensioner is hydraulic and would interfere with the passenger side motor mount. The mount that you would want to use when swapping into a mk1 is a 16v tensioner (off like a mk2 or scirocco). It’s the correct width for the belt and clears the motor mount perfectly. the 8v one is too small. Some people mension needing a spacer, but I’ve never come across that issue.
Other than that 16v tensioner, the rest of the timing is stock 1.8t. Stock intermediate shaft gear, stock cam gear, stock crank gear.
Let me know if you have any other questions, I’d be happy to help!
Man do I need to update this blog…. I’ll do that soon.
-Ken
Ssooo the tensoner in line with the vr6 h20 pully and alternator is a 16 tensioner?
ahhh, no sorry I thought you meant the timing belt tensioner.
No, the tensioner in line with the serpentine belt setup (water pump pulley, alternator) is the stock 1.8t tensioner.
sorry for the confusion.
So what was the wiring process like? Can you give some insight into that please?
Ken, Can I get your contact info? I have a handful of questions about the swap. I’m in the middle of a very similar swap. Thanks, -Ben A2brb1@gmail.com
Emailed you, Ben!