Cost Of Gti6 Conversion?

[GLPoomobile 958]

I need to know...

 

a) what's the going rate for a GTi6 in to 205 engine conversion? (including sourcing engine, replacing water pump, tensioners belts, clutch etc. Will be using existing 1.6 'box).

 

b.) who would be most trustworthy to do this? I'm only interested in tidy conversions, no bodging. So first hand experience preferred with regards to this question Location is not important.

 

Just to reiterate, I want the going rate assuming the cost of sourcing the engine too.

 

I will try to call a few places over the next week, but hoping for a quick answer from you guys

 

Oh, and please don't bother telling me to do the conversion myself. I wouldn't be posting this if I was in any position to do this myself

[205007 12]

from my own experience i can offer the following estimates

 

1) engine - anything from 350-800 for a gti 6 lump prices vary wildly and if someone else is buying it then you will certainly pay top dollar

2) waterpump/cambelt about 150-200 for parts depending on genuine or not

3) labour - id say to pay someone professional (i.e with a guarantee) to do this (including re-timing the engine) vary from 600-1600 depending on if you run standard electrics which isnt an easy wiring job like the mi16 conversion

4)clutch vary from 50-150 and ideally you fit it engine out and just pay for parts

 

best way is to buy a crashed gti-6 then you also have the bonus of selling unwanted bits to claw back some cash and you can source the ecu/water hoses etc needed to convert

 

the only other thing to say is if you go for the cheaper route by not running the gti-6 ecu then you need some carbs/throttle bodies to make it go! which can be 500-1200 depending on age and specification

 

all in all i`d budget 2-2.5k for someone to do it for you

[Baz 421]

I'd say Adam's figure is a pretty good ball-park, but obviously for big companies and 'knowns' that will be top dollar. There are cheaper firms out there, that are just as good, but just have less overheads and prefer to do such work than the daily servicing and maintenance, hence being cheaper, ie. One man bands.

 

I know if i gave a trusted guy i know about, 1500 he'd do exactly as asked, supply engine, give it a good birthday/check over, and fit it. And would honour his work for a fair time too.

[GLPoomobile 958]

all in all i`d budget 2-2.5k for someone to do it for you

 

This was the figure I was expecting.

 

I'll just say this again as not everyone understands my position and I want to keep the replies specifically to the questions asked - I CANNOT SOURCE AN ENGINE MYSELF*. I live in a flat in central London, with off street parking for one car (and already have one). I have tried to get some sort of workshop space but there is nothing local, nothing I'd consider as secure, and it would mean more money. Further more, I frankly cannot be bothered messing around too much these days, and as satisfying as it would be too complete my own conversion, I'd rather have my weekends free to either enjoy my car or have fun with my wife

 

*I mean in terms of buying a doner and stripping it.

 

I just need to establish my options very quickly because I'm in a position to spend what is, to me, a lot of money on getting 16v propulsion. Either by buying a converted 205, or by converting my own. The 205s that I have seen for sale are not exactly cheap, and I think I'm expecting too much for the money. It's made me realise that my own 205 is not as bad as I always think it is, and that is why I need to weigh up the option of keeping it and continuing the project (if you can call it a project ).

 

And please (this means you Tekno and Sonofsam) don't bother telling me to go Turbo

[Garry 1]

I paid £2.5k for my conversion 3 years ago from PPM (included 'special' exhaust manifold).

 

I would suggest you employ someone else to do the work

[GLPoomobile 958]

I paid £2.5k for my conversion 3 years ago from PPM (included 'special' exhaust manifold).

 

I would suggest you employ someone else to do the work

 

Do you mean, employ someone other than the above? If so, don't worry, they would never be on my list of possibilities

[GLPoomobile 958]

Just thought I'd add, that I've seen a receipt for a DES engine conversion from 1.5 years ago. Mi16 sourced, rebuilt and fitted for about just over £2K IIRC. Certainly between 2 and 2.5K I'm sure. It looked like one of the tidiest conversions I've seen (only seen a few in the flesh but comparing it the hundreds of engine bay photos I've seen, the wiring loom was tidy etc). What's the general opinion as far as DES are concerned?

 

Obviously the prices have gone up since then.

[Alastairh 47]

They seem to know there stuff, and there work looks good

 

If i was in your position, id have a talk to Miles and Dan (Taylorspug) off here.

 

Alastair

[TEKNOPUG 3]

Personally, I would try and source the engine myself. If you leave it for the installer to source and it gives way a short time afterwards, then its gonna lead to hassle and complications (acrimonious feelings) etc. Also, if you want a pro to give you a warranty on the engine, then they are going to want to rebuild it first, which will greatly increase the cost. If you can get an engine from a running car then youll have a decent idea as to its health and you will only have yourself to blame if it gives way.

 

With regards to turbocharging, I think that its best that you learn to walk before you can run, isnt that right Sam?!

[205007 12]

i doubt any installer will be happy at installing an engine they dont know? it would certainly mean no warranty would be given which would be one of the main points in paying someone to do it

[GLPoomobile 958]

Well, since I'm not not going to be providing an engine, any installer will need to either source an engine for me and be satisified with it themselves, or source an engine and rebuild it.

 

So back to my original questions - what's the going rate and what companies are trustworthy?

 

(I will try and call DES tomorrow)

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

I would without a doubt strip and check the engine and replace what ever needs replacing so the price all too soon add's up, I always say that buying a non running engine must be bought as scrap no matter what the seller say's in most cases.

In the ideal world a Xsara or 306 donor could be found a then the engine heard running not that it helps much as it still could be on the verge of destruction but some people get away with it other's don;t

Plus with the GTi6 engine havig a habbit of snapping belts you don;t want a tapper as there know when people do a bad repair job.

[maxi 36 1 Cars]

The conversion is simple (got them off to a fine art for myself now) and engines are easily sourced, I picked another unit up the other day and got change out of £400. Just remember to budget an extra £150+VAT to have your ECU unlocked.

 

As for installers, Dan Taylor (Taylorspug) is your man. He does a top job, dosent f*** about and is an all round top bloke. Drop him a PM if your serious and he will talk you through it.

 

Maxi

[welshpug 1,677]

as for the ECU unlocking I've found someone who does them for £120 + vat, no website running as yet but they do have email info@totaltuning.com not used them as yet, just spotted their ad in car mechanics magazine and dropped them an email.

 

and while we're on the topic of GTi6, does anyone know how easy it would be to splice the 6 engine loom into a zx loom?

[maxi 36 1 Cars]

as for the ECU unlocking I've found someone who does them for £120 + vat, no website running as yet but they do have email info@totaltuning.com not used them as yet, just spotted their ad in car mechanics magazine and dropped them an email.

 

and while we're on the topic of GTi6, does anyone know how easy it would be to splice the 6 engine loom into a zx loom?

 

 

You dont "splice" any looms into other looms, I think this is where people go wrong. As with all the engine conversions, the management systems are all stand alone and just need live, earth, fuel pump etc to run. You should use the sensor setup from the ZX with the GTi6 loom. The 6 conversion is best done with the loom left on the engine, dropped in the new hole, connect the few wires and off you go.

 

Maxi

Edited April 4, 2007 by maxi