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Fri Jul 12, 2013 5:26 am

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I have been told that I can swapout my tired stock turbo for a larger K03.

Is this upgrade acceptable on my 1.6TD Tubo from stock to a K03 unit.

Does anyone know if this is a good upgrade and a direct bolt on unit and will manifold, and Downpipe will line up?

Will it be a better performer, anyone have any experience or knowledge of the K03 Upgrade?
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Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:05 am

All of the stock 1.6TD turbos were larger than the K03. The k03 from the AAZ with the matching manifold will bolt onto the 1.6 easily with only a slight interference with the driver's side mounting bracket. That interference is easily eliminated by grinding the bracket. The K03 is decent on a 1.6TD. Boost response is very quick. It is lacking higher rpm performance, tho, as it is very restrictive.

Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:46 am

Wait.. I'm confused. I thought that the k03 was a good upgrade.
If Not
What would you recommend, as something that was better suited? :?

Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:46 pm

Bigger is not always better with turbos. At the risk of being overly simplistic, a larger turbo means greater high-end power but more lag in the lower rpms. A smaller turbo reduces lag but causes added restriction at the high end.

IMO the early 1.6TD turbo were way too big for the 1.6TD engine. Since then, they have gradually gone smaller and smaller while at the same time increasing the engine displacement so that at this point the stock turbos are too small for the larger engines.

IMO, the K03 from the AAZ with matching manifold is a good match for the 1.6TD in a vanagon. It fits fairly easily and gives good low-end which is most important for getting the very heavy box moving with the smaller displacement/reduced torque of the 1.6TD. On a 1.6TD in a vanagon I would definitely consider the K03 an upgrade from the K24 or T3 that came fitted stock on most 1.6TD engines. I prefer the performance of the K14 a little bit over that of the K03. It is a little larger than the K03 but smaller than the K24 or T3. It has a little more lag than the K03 but much better top end. Unfortunately the K14 in the jetta/golf configuration is a fairly extreme interference with the vanagon driver's side engine mounting bracket. The stock vanagon 1.6TD engine came with the K14 but with the Quantum/Vanagon manifold which places it down low and to the front of the engine. If your 1.6TD already has the K14, then keep it and focus on other upgrades like intercooler. If it has the K24 or T3 then the K03 would be a good change.

Fri Jul 12, 2013 7:55 pm

Can the AAZ Turbo bolt up to the 1.6 Turbo manifold?

My 1.6 Turbo may not be spoiling and I found a good rebuilt AAZ Turbo only for sale.

Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:32 pm

Here's a photo of a fabricated mount for a K14 on a 1.9 AAZ in a Vanagon.

I've seen nicer ones but it works.

Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:57 pm

Here's a mount bracket I modified for the K14:

Gruppe B wrote: Can the AAZ Turbo bolt up to the 1.6 Turbo manifold?

My 1.6 Turbo may not be spoiling and I found a good rebuilt AAZ Turbo only for sale.

There were three different AAZ turbos. The K14 and IIRC the T2 will bolt up to the 1.6TD manifolds, the K03 will not.

Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:08 pm

I have a k03 on mine and I have to say that I like it

the only issue was I couldn't use the stock turbo/manifold combo I had to make a pipe to locate the turbo down and back so it would fit with out any interference, but other than that no big issue's

Sat Jul 13, 2013 5:39 pm

I'm confused again.. So the K03 is a good choice for the 1.6TD But I'm confused about the manifold. Thought that someone said to use the AAZ manifold. Will that mate up to the 1.6TD head. Also is it a interference issue that I'll have to address. Any other info is appreciated.

If the AAZ manifold is suggested. Guess I'll have to shop around for a AAZ manifold.

Got Pixs

Sat Jul 13, 2013 6:32 pm

There are two K03 turbos that were used on the VW diesels. They are functionally the same (same compressor/turbine) but bolt up differently and so are not interchangeable. One of them came on the AAZ engine and is bolted in the center of the manifold and up high. The other came on the 1Z/AHU TDIs and is bolted down low. I do not care for the location of the TDI version when installed in a vanagon. The AAZ version needs the AAZ manifold. This guy is selling one:

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=33488.0

The AAZ exhaust manifolds will bolt up to the 1.6TD. When the AAZ is fitted with a K03 and installed in a vanagon there is not any interference. When the AAZ K03 and manifold are installed on a 1.6TD in a vanagon there is a bit of interference with the driver's side mounting bracket due to the shorter 1.6 engine block which moves the manifold and turbo closer to the mounting bracket. If you go to install it, you can fairly easily mark the interference and remove by grinding the mount bracket. It will still be plenty strong after clearance.

Sun Jul 14, 2013 10:14 am

Andrew.
Thank you very much for your time and knowledge. Your an A-OK dude. :shock:

Wed Aug 07, 2013 6:02 am

Anyone gots any Pixs, of your Turbo, and Turbo Plumbing? Not looking for overly complex.

But any Pixs would help me figure out how it's done and what I need to do to upgrade my Turbo.

BTW thanks for all of Andrews help. :D
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