UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Ok people.

First off Hi, I'm currently using a 1988 Polo coupe S as a daily hack, it's a great little car, brilliant on fuel and drives really well, probably because it's only covered 68 thousand miles.

But I like to play, so what upgrades are in order?

Lets start with the engine...

I notice I've got the 2E3 Pierburg carb, and really fancy using an old weber I've got from a 1800cc scirroco, and a K&N filter, so what jets will I need for this application, and what are the power gains likely to be?

Cam is another area I want to address, I'm guessing it's the the most "agressive" cam in the coupe S and so aftermarket cams are the way?, if not, please point me in the right direction as to what VAG cam I can use? if aftermarket, what cam would you go for for fast road tune?

Head, what are the largest valves you'd go for for fast road tune?, is there a lot of work you can do other than match porting exhaust and inlet?

Exhaust?, grey area for me, I guess I'll need a new manifold, as stock ones are pathetic, but what is on offer?

Chassis, looking at go kart handling, on a budget, any pointers?

Thanks in advance.

I can't help on all that much of this, but I can try

To start off with, the coupe s has just the same engine as any other mk2 1.3 - it's just a standard 55bhp lump, same as the 1.3 golfs had. So the cam's pretty mild really. The most agressive VAG cam you can use is the cam from a mk3 polo GT, but if you do this you'll need to replace the fuel tank and fit electronic pumps, as the mk3 camshaft doesn't have a cam to run the mechanical pump from.

Exhaust manifold, most people go for an ashley 4-2-1 manifold - there isn't really much else on offer unless you get it custom made. Unfortunately serious tuning parts for the old polos are pretty few and far between

Chassis, you can do a few things.. strut braces are available for the front and rear which should stiffen it up a good bit, you can also fit a rear axle from a mk3 gt/g40 which has a built in anti roll bar. That lot coupled with a nice suspension kit should set you off nicely really. Might want to look at brakes as well - you can't fit a direct servo as there's no room, however you could fit a remote servo, eg from a mini. As for the friction components, easiest mod is to fit vented discs from a mk2 golf gti, you'll need VWII calipers and they just bolt straight on. Golf gti rear disc conversions are also possible but I don't know of anyone here who's done one.

Hopefully someone else will be able to help you out on the rest

Thanks for that.


So I can go to my local scrappy, get a 1300 golf head and get that flowed and big valves cut, bonus, there are loads of knackared 1300 golfs in yards due to carb problems (as I said, the pierburg 2E, and its variants, are a really a woeful carb).

aftermarket cams for these bad boys then?, I'll do some research and let you know how I get on.

GroovyCarrot wrote:I can't help on all that much of this, but I can try

To start off with, the coupe s has just the same engine as any other mk2 1.3 - it's just a standard 55bhp lump, same as the 1.3 golfs had. So the cam's pretty mild really. The most agressive VAG cam you can use is the cam from a mk3 polo GT, but if you do this you'll need to replace the fuel tank and fit electronic pumps, as the mk3 camshaft doesn't have a cam to run the mechanical pump from.

Exhaust manifold, most people go for an ashley 4-2-1 manifold - there isn't really much else on offer unless you get it custom made. Unfortunately serious tuning parts for the old polos are pretty few and far between

Chassis, you can do a few things.. strut braces are available for the front and rear which should stiffen it up a good bit, you can also fit a rear axle from a mk3 gt/g40 which has a built in anti roll bar. That lot coupled with a nice suspension kit should set you off nicely really. Might want to look at brakes as well - you can't fit a direct servo as there's no room, however you could fit a remote servo, eg from a mini. As for the friction components, easiest mod is to fit vented discs from a mk2 golf gti, you'll need VWII calipers and they just bolt straight on. Golf gti rear disc conversions are also possible but I don't know of anyone here who's done one.

Hopefully someone else will be able to help you out on the rest

^^^what he said and also the way the arb used for part of the wishbone aswell as the arb mounts bein made of rubber which allows movement if you kick the tire you will notice that it moves
this is going to be crap for handleing so if you spend loads of money on a good suspension set up it is still going to handle like poo unless you do something about the arb mounts

there was a group buy in the mk3 section for nylon mounts for 55 euros

with golf rear disc would be the same as any other car just swap the drums for the discs but you will have to bodge a handbrake cable

I as well have a coupe s that I have moddified, theres not that much you can do unless you have major money. Personally i would start with a weber twin choke conversion, then get a k and n and then a full system ashley exhaust so that the petrol and air is going in as quick as it can, and the gases are escaping as fast as possible.Then you could upgrade the ignition leads etc and drop a gt cam in. Ive spoken to a vag specialist and apparently you can drop one in very straight forward. Also port match the manifold and inlet. Ive done most of these things apart from the cam and it has made a fair difference. Good luck, it is worth doing trust me!!