TheSamba.com :: View topic - SP to TP should I change the cooling system?

Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:07 am

Im changing my 1300 SP to a 1600 TP using a top end rebuild kit and a new manifold. Is it necessary to also upgrade the cooling to a twin port system that VW used when they started using TP engines? Will it do any damage to just run the engine a bit hotter? Or is there a less cost effective alternative?

Thanks

Freddie

Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:19 am

There was a reason that VW upgraded the cooling system at the same time as they upgraded to dual port heads. The extra HP required extra cooling.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:32 am

Well, you'll need to change the upper cyinder shrouds for the different manfiold/heads, of course. As for the offset oil cooler - well, that depends on how you plan on driving it. Like Russ just said, VW did go to that system for a reason, after all. I'm not sure but didn't the 1300 twin-port engines also get that system as well? And those have less horsepower than the 1600 single-ports did. Now, If you're mostly doing short run urban driving, then a tight stock non-doghouse style cooling system might do you fine But if you're taking it out on the freeway, well I'd go for the offset oil cooler and the wider fan.

Since you called it a twin port instead of a dual port, you must in England - you might try asking others closer to home what they've done and what they think over on the UK's Volkszone's Vzi Message boards. I'm sure you'll get a similar response, but you might be able to get a line on the parts you'll need through people there as well.

http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/forumdisplay.php?f=11