2.0 ABA?

VWnoob · Post by **VWnoob** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:58 am

Guys, what kind of a car does a 2.0l ABA engine come out of?
I found some places here in So. Cal that will swap for me and blueprint my heads but it will not pass emissions tests.
One shop will even need my core and my heads before they will do the swap.

http://www.justveedubs.com/vw-performan ... engine.htm
http://www.racesolutions.com/

Also, these engines are like $2000+..... I dont want to spend that much.
I heard from the guys here at my local Eurosport that I can buy an engine for like $300 and swap it myself.

Any help on this will be appreciated.
Thanks fellas!

Jim

1lowcab · Post by **1lowcab** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:21 pm

the ABA is in 93 and up golfs and jettas. i think you have to use the obd-1 motor 93 -95, i could be wrong on that. all you need is the block, your head will bolt up. the block is a little taller then the 1.8 so you'll need to mod you down pipe.
go here http://techtonicstuning.com/ and look under engine swap info... good reading.

VWnoob · Post by **VWnoob** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:55 am

Thanks a lot Lowcab!
I am going to be searching for that block, now that I know what kind of car to look for it in.

Ill be posting my progress..

Jim
The not-so-noob...anymore.

-vertigo- · Post by **-vertigo-** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:29 pm

an obd1 shortblock from a 93-95 golf or jetta will work, so will the obd2 shortblocks from 95-99 golfs and jettas.

if you go with boost, obd1 is preferable.

1lowcab · Post by **1lowcab** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:18 pm

so you can use obdII, i was wandering about that. thats good to know. you should be able to find a very low mileage obdII block.

VWnoob · Post by **VWnoob** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:46 pm

-vertigo- wrote:an obd1 shortblock from a 93-95 golf or jetta will work, so will the obd2 shortblocks from 95-99 golfs and jettas.

if you go with boost, obd1 is preferable.

Ok now im confused.....

I just gone done learning all of the A1 MK1 ABA jargen and now Dino went and threw a wrench in the works! LOL!

What is this OBD mess you talkin? Please teach me!

Thanks

Jim

Post by **Calimus** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:08 pm

To break it down very basic (cause thats about all the understanding I have of it) OBD is the computer system that controls the car. Basicly, it is a standard that was put in place so that there was not 50 different types of systems requiring a repair shop to have 50 different systems to read the car computers. While the different automakers can put in some brand specific codes, much of the fault codes are standard and can be read by $60 code readers available at places like Autozone. Best I know, there is OBD1 and OBD2, the later being the current standard.

1lowcab · Post by **1lowcab** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:11 pm

OBD - On-Board Diagnostic System. obdI 93 to 96 i think. all makes used it to communicate with the ecu. before 93 all makes used different ways to access the ecu. thats the short of it.

-vertigo- · Post by **-vertigo-** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 11:37 pm

sorry, sometimes i wander off into jargonland and forget to hand out maps. before i witter on about other stuff, here's a few things to know:

DP = downpipe. connects your exhaust manifold to your cat
shortblock = the lower portion of an engine, the bit with the pistons
longblock = shortblock plus the head (bit with the valves, cam etc)
obd = on board diagnostics, there are two versions of the electronics but you wont use either on your car (you use the stock electronics) so forget all about obd - just remember both versions are "ABA" engine codes.

except, there is one difference that might influence your choice, apart from mileage. obd1 shortblocks have oil squirters under the pistons which help to keep things cool. totally unnecessary is you stay normally aspirated, but helpful if you run 6psi of boost or more.

ok. what else? oh yeah...

both obd1 and obd2 versions of the ABA block bolt right up to your existing head. however, you cannot use the stock headgasket. use one from a 2.0 16v engine, or the special techtonicstuning gasket.

secondly, as mentioned above the ABA block is 16mm taller than your stock block. tht menas your DP will be too short. now, you can replace the DP with an aftermarket pipe or you can take it to a shop and have them make the adjustment to the DP (which is probably cheaper).

when you buy a block make sure you get the distributor. you can use that dizzy or use the stock dizzy with an adaptor ring and some parts from the original distributor. this will make more sense when you read the link below.

you will also need a block-off plate as there is a crank case hole on ABA engines that is not used when you do the swap. you need to block that hole off and the plate you need is available from Pete Tong on the vortex for ~$50.

after you do the swap you will bump HP from about 90 to roughly 110. along with a few more bolt-on modifications, the little car will become really nippy.

the best site i know detailing the swap is here: http://www.geocities.com/scirocco_86_ca/

if you live anywhere in New England, i can get you hooked up with a block.

VWnoob · Post by **VWnoob** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:37 pm

Wow guys, thanks for the info!

Dino, thanks for the detailed explanation, that really helped out!
Ill definately let you guys know when I hook up my ABA. I think that I am going to head that route. But I want the complete engine, head and all. So just in case something would go wrong (knock on wood), I have a backup.
Then maybe down the road go for some FORCED INDUCTION!!! (God I love saying that!)

Jim

SammySJ99 · Post by **SammySJ99** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:31 pm

That info was really helpful. I am gong to the engine route as well and I was totaly lost on what anything was...