Engine swap (seat 6k 1.3 project)

[sergio_z4gt3]

Ok, I've just bought my first car, and I should have my license in less than year... I have a 93 Ibiza 6k with a SOHC 8v 1.3 litre engine (same of which equips the polo 6n) It's pretty boring to drive, it's only got 50 bhp, it's really slow, and I want to swap it for a 1.4 litre DOHC 16v with 101bhp (Ibiza GTI/polo 16v)... I already know of a few cheap 6k's with the 1.4 from scrapyards to get the parts from, so the question is: Do I need anything more than the engine, the transmission and the ECU? And can I take the ECU from the 1.4 6k and use it on mine, or do I need a new one? Finally how much time do you reckon I'll take, since I'll only be working on it on weekends

 

[Fastcarguy]

I wouldn't do anything like that right away if its your first car. That could end in a never ending project that just sucks away your money. How much mechanical experience do you have? Also, welcome to GTP.

 

[sergio_z4gt3]

I wouldn't do anything like that right away if its your first car. That could end in a never ending project that just sucks away your money. How much mechanical experience do you have?

I'm on a Mechatronic preparation program in Toyota, I've stripped engines and gearboxes and examined their components, but never actually repaired anything, that'll only come in the second year... Oh and YouTube lol... I want a faster car, but, I can't afford an e46, and I don't want an e36 because they're unsafe and I don't want to get me or my girlfriend killed...

 

[sergio_z4gt3]

I wouldn't do anything like that right away if its your first car. That could end in a never ending project that just sucks away your money. How much mechanical experience do you have? Also, welcome to GTP.

Hmmm, what do you reckon I should do then, besides engine swap? And I can't afford ITB's and this engine can't handle turbo charging, it's only a 1.3 and it needs to hold itself until I can buy a 320d, probably for a year... What can I do, that's relatively inexpensive and gives me at least 15bhp?

 

[Fastcarguy]

I would say a performance exhaust or just general tuning of the engine.

 

[Sage Ages]

I want a faster car, but, I can't afford an e46, and I don't want an e36 because they're unsafe and I don't want to get me or my girlfriend killed...

Define "unsafe".

 

[sergio_z4gt3]

Define "unsafe".

Happy back end + 2 star euroncap rating + no experience on RWD= dangerous

 

[VXR]

I'm on a Mechatronic preparation program in Toyota, I've stripped engines and gearboxes and examined their components, but never actually repaired anything, that'll only come in the second year... Oh and YouTube lol... I want a faster car, but, I can't afford an e46, and I don't want an e36 because they're unsafe and I don't want to get me or my girlfriend killed...

I've written off an E36, head first into a mud bank and ended up on its side. Apart from the bumper trim falling off, there was minimal frontal damage.

 

[TheCracker]

I want a faster car, but, I can't afford an e46, and I don't want an e36 because they're unsafe and I don't want to get me or my girlfriend killed...

Very few cars are unsafe unless you drive them like a tool.

 

[Fastcarguy]

Other than small, cheap, Indian or Chinese cars. The only car I can think of thats generally not unsafe even when driven safely is the Tata Nano

European cars are almost always very good in the crashes

 

[Sage Ages]

Happy back end + 2 star euroncap rating + no experience on RWD= dangerous

So for that reason, you want a RWD car that's even faster than the E36?

 

[sergio_z4gt3]

So for that reason, you want a RWD car that's even faster than the E36?

I'm not scared of speed, I'm scared of not having traction control, LSD or ABS and 25 year old technologies, so it only makes perfect sense to buy an e46 which is just a safer/improved e36, especially if the cars I'm considering are the 318is and the 320d

 

[Sage Ages]

True. Those are pretty important things to consider, but that doesn't mean stepping foot in an E36 will immediately cause this happen.

I'm not saying an E46 isn't a better option (it probably is), but I doubt an E36 would be any less safe than your current car if you know what you're doing.

 

[sergio_z4gt3]

I've written off an E36, head first into a mud bank and ended up on its side. Apart from the bumper trim falling off, there was minimal frontal damage.

View attachment 461758 View attachment 461759

What version was your e36? 318, 320?

 

[VXR]

320i, no airbag.

 

[TexRex]

what do you reckon I should do then

Drive it. Maintain it.