Best Engine Swap for a MK1 Rabbit? | VR6 vs 1.8t vs TDI vs ABA vs 07K

In this video, I break down all the pros and cons of the most popular engine swaps for the MK1 platform. I hope this video will help you decide which swap will be best for you.
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Parts List: docs.google.co...
S&P automotive:
s-pautomotive....
Urotuning:
www.urotuning.com

[@SailGroove894]

My current project is my 81 rabbit pickup with an 02j and a cjaa tdi

[@rzmod4766]

Ahh.. there is only one answer. ALH

[@Leakyvws]

I definitely gotta give the diesels a try at some point. Can’t beat that 50 mpg

[@rzmod4766]

@@Leakyvws ya they arnt all slow lol. We have ranger with a alh in it and a golf with a stage four and it hurts alot of feelings haha.

[@Leakyvws]

@@rzmod4766 the main reason I’ve stayed away to this point is that I don’t have any prior experience with diesels. I’d love to have a caddy with an ALH some day. Just can’t justify building one with the other 4 VWs I have at the moment lol

[@andrewb9708]

​@@LeakyvwsThe ALH is a great platform for those new to diesels. It's an extremely simple, 8v SOHC engine with tons of aftermarket performance parts. My 2003 Jetta ALH with a Kerma tune, gt1752v turbo, exhaust and mild nozzles is surprisingly quick. The turbo and intake are a little tricky to take off, but generally speaking, they're easy to work on.

[@sunoclockoneday2576]

Had a stage 2 mk4 ALH wagon and realistically it was low HP but the torque is insane. Had a MK 12v VR swap and that was fun but once i drove an ALH i was hooked. Ill never drive a gasser again

[@DubbinMoto]

My 1.8t swap was sub 3k If I remember correctly. Thats with doing an 02M 6 speed as well. S&P mounts & harness, Custom made axles, Stock radiator w/ mishimoto fan, ebay intercooler and piping, tectonics exhaust and downpipe from amazon lol. Turned my rabbit pickup into a rabid animal lol

[@teebee5317]

Honestly. I'm super impressed with the 1.0tsi that'd be a great motor to swap in it a super compact a bit more power and light package. Love my 2024 Polo 1.0tsi

[@Leakyvws]

@@teebee5317 I don’t think we’ll ever get engine here in the states unfortunately. However the 1.4t and 1.5t should start becoming more readily available here soon

[@teebee5317]

@@Leakyvws just head to the land of the Taco lots of them here. We didn't start getting them until lately from Brazil but what a riot. Tiny little motor looks lost in the engine bay. I could swap a starter in 15min without laying on the ground. An alternator in about 25 min it's such a great little package. For low horsepower stuff its even convenient it has a water to air intercooler built-in into intake manifold no tricky turbo plumbing.

[@vuilsidecrew2725]

Mk1s in cape town are running k24s, 3sge single beams, sr20ve's

[@ryanbramley5290]

You got it wrong the ABA IS A GOOD SECOND CHOICE BUT YOU REALY WANT THE ADY YOU CAN RUN MOR BOOST BECAUSE IT COMES FROM FACTORY WITH A CR OF 9:1 AS APOSED TO 10:1 AND THE ADY is the never engine so it doesn't have alot of kilometers on

[@Leakyvws]

I’m not to familiar with the ADY. Idk if we got it here in the states. Only reason I put the aba below the other options is lack of availability here and power in its stock form compared to the other options. That being said I love my aba in my cabrio and would never swap it for a different motor

[@kwashington2181]

16v big turbo

[@Leakyvws]

I wish 16vs were easier to find nowadays. I’d love to do a 16v with ITBs or bike carbs in an early German rabbit

[@Jrmquattto]

Between vr6 & aba boosted

[@LiveWire-it8zr]

Aba turbo... Best of all worlds

[@Teyz1989]

This is so freaking cool! I'm jealous great engine swap would of done that engine as well 👏👏👏

[@Leakyvws]

I love the vr6 platform. The engine has a lot of personality compared to the modern generic 4 cylinder turbo engines

[@drivewaybuilt2265]

Nope I don't have any of those options nor do I have a gulf. Just want to learn something new and see how you overcome your issues 👍

[@Leakyvws]

Hey and that’s fair too. Thanks for watching!

[@Munk3yTouch3r]

​@Leakyvws did you make your choice yet?

[@colewilkie]

the only reason I say 07k is because they're EVERYWHERE, need parts? you got 10 years and tons of chassis to grab from! also they love boost and 7300rpm lol

[@colewilkie]

07K THE WORLD BABY! they rip na in light chassis'

[@Leakyvws]

I agree 07k is definitely the easiest engine to get parts for out of all of the options since it is the newest. I’m looking forward to comparing my friends 07k once it is done to the VR6

[@colewilkie]

@@Leakyvws I am interested in seeing a comparison from a swap standpoint. I gotta find a mk4 vr6 to compare to my 07k swapped one haha

[@draggonhedd]

BUT DUDE IF YOU PUT A VR6 IN A MK1 ITS GONNA FLIP OVER

[@Leakyvws]

Currently doing endos with my corrado brakes lol

[@draggonhedd]

@@Leakyvws vr6 + mk1 = flipped mk1 is an ooolldd running joke from my days on vwvortex. some dude put his on its roof just after doing the swap and it took off from there lmao

[@Leakyvws]

@@draggonheddI remember looking through old vortex posts while researching the swap and seeing it a few times. I wish I could have been around when vortex was in its prime

[@travisstamp7428]

My aba-t in my mk2 4 door was a blast!

[@Leakyvws]

Once my cabrio is completely rotted (it’s very bad lol) my plan is to rip its aba out and have it live on in another car. Likely a s1 scirocco if I can find one and maybe turbo it in the process

[@pgtmr2713]

No VW here. Probe GT. I can appreciate a VR6 swapped or original.

[@ForgottenNitro]

I've had my 1.8t swap running well for a few months now and I've been loving it. I honestly haven't kept track of how much money I've put into it though

[@NitrousVolvo]

I’m doing the 07K swap boi! Chea! Woot woot woot!

[@Leakyvws]

The 07k was close second to the VR6 for me. I managed to convince a friend to swap his rabbit to an 07k so that build will be coming to the channel soon

[@NitrousVolvo]

@@Leakyvws I used to drive a mrk3 glx vr6. Sold it freshman year in college. I miss that car a lot. Both engines are unique and have tons of potential. Will be looking forward to seeing the rabbit come together. cheers

[@weseisenschenkslostmusclec9123]

@@Leakyvws Any interest in authoring a book on rebuilding VR6 engines?

[@tassap9355]

Pd100 is the answer! Or alh

[@chrisbuildthis6999]

Welcome to the VDUB Club. Right now I'm building a MK7 1.8t 5spd. IS38 conversion and Intercooler and APR. TUNE

[@Leakyvws]

A mk7 is the only generation of VW we are missing from our driveway. The IS38 is a great choice for any of the newer Volkswagens

[@derekcorreia9692]

Great stuff thank you so much

[@Mis73rRand0m]

My brother has a GTI with a k24 swap. If it didn't instantly blow tires to bits, it would be twisting the frame to bits (it kind of still does).

[@Leakyvws]

While I am not a big Honda guy, the k24 is a great engine and any k series with itbs sounds amazing

[@mason36s]

Hey I am thinking about picking up an 82 diesel just wondering how much and what else I would have to do to convert it to the gas vr6 motor

[@Leakyvws]

You would need a new gas tank or fuel cell. Also possibly a different cluster so you can have a tachometer. Other than that the vr6 will bolt right in with the swap kit

[@mason36s]

@@Leakyvws okay thank you so much I’m sure I will start posting it and I’ll update ya on the build your advice really helped me I appreciate it

[@mason36s]

⁠@@Leakyvwsdo you know of any kits for the cluster and all the wiring?

[@zbomb33]

What size tires on the wheels? Mine are still sitting in boxes, need to fix that!

[@Leakyvws]

They are the 16x8 snowflakes and I’m running 195/45 16. They do rub a bit at the current height but I am running a 3mm spacer in the front to clear my coilovers and a 10mm rear axle stub spacer. I also have not trimmed my fenders at all which would likely eliminate most of the rubbing

[@zbomb33]

@@Leakyvws Thanks, hard tires to find right now!

[@Leakyvws]

@@zbomb33 yep unfortunately the smaller tire size choices are getting scarce

[@juanlj9339]

Aba block 20v head N/A 💪🏽😎

[@Leakyvws]

@@juanlj9339 I wish we got the N/A 20v in the states

[@juanlj9339]

@@Leakyvws Home Made

[@Subaru5389]

My pick is ABA-T

[@Leakyvws]

I definitely did not give the ABA enough credit in this video. Over the last few weeks I’ve become very interested in building a high rev aba with bike carbs or itbs. Definitely the plan if I can find a decent scirocco shell for it to go into

[@Subaru5389]

@@Leakyvws I’m building one to hopefully turbo soon, with low comp pistons, metal head gasket and head studs:)